Gyeonggi-do Prepares Heatwave Measures Including Cooling Cost Support for Low-Income Households

Smart Shade Shelter

Gyeonggi Province has prepared heatwave measures, including providing 120,000 KRW for cooling costs to low-income households with disabilities.

On the 17th, Gyeonggi Province announced that from the 20th of this month until September 30, it will implement comprehensive heatwave measures such as ▲supporting 120,000 KRW cooling costs for low-income disabled households ▲installing cooling devices in 840 single elderly households ▲providing smart shade shelters.

First, Gyeonggi Province will operate a dedicated heatwave situation management task force (TF) or activate the regional disaster safety countermeasures headquarters according to the response stages (caution, alert → severe) when weather warnings are issued.

In particular, to prevent casualties caused by heatwaves, measures for vulnerable groups will be established. A budget of 2.1 billion KRW will be invested to support heatwave prevention supplies and operate cooling shelters for single elderly and low-income households at high risk of heat-related illnesses. Cooling costs of 2.68 billion KRW will be provided at 120,000 KRW per household to 22,340 low-income disabled households.

Additionally, cooling devices will be installed in 840 single elderly households with mobility difficulties, and joint electrical safety inspections will be conducted with related agencies such as the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation. As a support measure for vulnerable groups severely affected by recent electricity price hikes, 1.85 billion KRW will be provided for two months of cooling costs to 8,059 senior centers.

Gyeonggi Province will also allocate additional cooling costs to 7,188 senior centers, villages, and welfare centers designated as indoor cooling shelters. Furthermore, an emergency contact network will be established in connection with home health care projects and customized elderly care services targeting about 230,000 health-vulnerable groups such as elderly under care and those with mobility difficulties.

For homeless people on the streets, Gyeonggi Province will promote patrols in densely populated areas, health status checks, distribution of emergency relief supplies, securing cooling spaces, and reinforcing the functions of homeless facilities. A budget of 440 million KRW has been allocated for this purpose.

To ensure a rapid emergency response system for heat-related illness patients, 84 emergency rooms and 276 119 heatwave ambulances will be operated within the province.

In addition, the province recommends operating heat rest hours (2 PM to 5 PM) at 16,989 outdoor construction sites and operates 74 cooling shelters for mobile workers.

Gyeonggi Province will also expand heatwave reduction facilities closely linked to daily life, such as smart shade shelters and shade trees, from 11,149 locations last year to 12,662 this year. A related budget of 5.7 billion KRW was prepared in February.

Oh Byeong-kwon, the first deputy governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Due to climate change, the average summer temperature continues to rise, intensifying heatwaves. We will establish a thorough heatwave response system and effectively implement protection measures for vulnerable groups to ensure the health and safety of residents."

Meanwhile, recent heat-related illness cases in the province were 173 (0 deaths) in 2020, 271 (2 deaths) in 2021, and 353 (2 deaths) in 2022.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.