Nowon-gu Begins Full Operation of Summer 'Heat Relief Shelters'

A total of 278 general shelters (weekdays 9 AM to 6 PM), 27 extended shelters (weekdays 6 PM to 9 PM, holidays 9 AM to 9 PM), and 1 night shelter (8 PM to 7 AM next day) are operated... Over 96,000 people used them last year

During July and August, the 'District Office 1st Floor Lobby' is open on weekdays and weekends from 9 AM to 6 PM... Cafe ‘Nowon437’ also operates on weekends from 10 AM to 5 PM, offering half-price discounts to Nowon-gu residents aged 65 and older visiting on weekends

Outdoor heat relief shelters 'Healing Refrigerator' to operate at 15 locations from July 17 to August 15

The first-floor lobby of Nowon District Office will be used as a cooling shelter.

Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will officially operate 'Heat Relief Shelters' from July to protect vulnerable groups against heat waves.

The ‘Heat Relief Shelter’ project creates resting places where people exposed to prolonged heat outdoors or those without air conditioning at home can take a break in a cool environment. In 2018, Nowon-gu was the first local government nationwide to implement a ‘Night Heat Relief Shelter’ and was recognized as an exemplary case in local government heat wave response.

Heat Relief Shelters are broadly divided into ▲General ▲Extended ▲Night shelters. General shelters operate regularly from 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays. These include 19 community service centers, 246 senior centers, and 12 welfare centers (facilities), with the district office 1st floor lobby newly added this year.

When a heat wave warning is issued, extended and night shelters also operate. Extended shelters open from 6 PM to 9 PM on weekdays at 19 community service centers and 7 welfare centers (facilities), and 7 welfare centers (facilities) are available on holidays from 9 AM to 9 PM.

In particular, the district office 1st floor lobby will be open continuously from 9 AM to 6 PM on both weekdays and weekends for two months during July and August, regardless of heat wave warnings. Correspondingly, the book cafe ‘Nowon437,’ which opened in the district office 1st floor lobby last March, will start weekend operations. From July 1 to August 27, it will operate from 10 AM to 5 PM, offering half-price discounts on cafe beverages to Nowon-gu residents aged 65 and older who visit on weekends upon ID verification.

The night shelter consists of 50 rooms at the Noblesse Tourist Hotel next to the district office, designated as a ‘Safe Accommodation’ through a business agreement with the district. It is available to vulnerable elderly residents aged 65 and older (living alone, recipients of public assistance) who apply through community service centers, operating from 8 PM to 7 AM the next day.

Specific locations of the Heat Relief Shelters can be found on the Nowon-gu Office website or the National Disaster Safety Portal. Last year, a total of about 96,000 people used the shelters: 95,179 at general shelters, 673 at extended shelters, and 566 at night shelters.

The district has established a robust emergency contact system with health centers, fire stations, and medical institutions for rapid response to emergencies and strengthens welfare checks for elderly vulnerable to heat waves. Disaster helpers such as life support workers and home care managers make phone calls twice a week and visit at least twice a month under normal conditions, and during heat wave warnings, they call daily and visit if calls are missed three or more times to check on the elderly.

Another representative heat wave measure of the district is the outdoor heat relief shelter called 'Healing Refrigerator,' which will operate at 15 locations for 30 days from July 17 to August 15. This project places freezers along walking trails and riversides to provide residents with cool drinking water to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and heat cramps during outdoor summer activities.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “In preparation for what is expected to be a longer and stronger heat wave this summer, we have designated the district office 1st floor lobby as a new general and extended shelter along with operating night heat relief shelters. We will spare no effort at the district level to ensure residents can spend the summer safely and healthily.”

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