Gwanak-gu Operates Heat Relief Shelters in Preparation for Heatwave

Operation of 140 Senior Cooling Centers such as Senior Citizens' Centers from May 20 to September 30

Centers will also operate on weekday nights, weekends, and holidays during heatwave warnings to protect heat-vulnerable groups including seniors

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Junhee) will operate 'Senior Cooling Centers' to prepare for heatwaves from May 20 to September 30.

The district has established a total of 140 locations for this year’s ‘Senior Cooling Centers’ at places easily accessible to seniors (▲110 Senior Citizens' Centers ▲21 Community Service Centers ▲7 Welfare Centers ▲2 Safety Lodgings).

The ‘Senior Cooling Centers’ are divided into ▲‘General Centers’ that operate regularly at local Senior Citizens' Centers, Community Service Centers, and Welfare Centers (weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and ▲‘Extended Centers’ that operate during heatwave warnings at Community Service Centers and Welfare Centers (weekdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., holidays and weekends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and will be operated according to heatwave conditions.

Additionally, the district has designated two hotel safety lodgings within the area as ‘Night Centers’ for low-income elderly households living in poor housing conditions such as rooms without air conditioning, rooftop rooms, and goshiwon (small dormitory-style rooms), who are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. These will operate from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day on weekdays, and from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day on weekends.

Elderly people resting at the heat relief shelter

‘General Centers’ and ‘Extended Centers’ are open to all seniors, while ‘Night Centers’ can be used after applying through the resident’s Community Service Center.

Before full operation, the district conducted pre-inspections of the cooling center facilities and promptly addressed any deficiencies to thoroughly prepare for the health and safety of heat-vulnerable groups.

In particular, banners and signboards for the cooling centers are posted at Community Service Centers, Welfare Centers, and subway stations to promote the centers and help seniors easily and quickly find their locations.

For detailed information such as operating hours of the cooling centers, inquiries can be made at the Gwanak-gu Office Senior and Youth Division or the resident’s Community Service Center.

District Mayor Park Junhee said, “Through the operation of the cooling centers, we will do our best to help seniors and other heat-vulnerable groups prevent heat-related illnesses and spend the summer safely.”

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