Seoul City Councilor Choi Hojung Proposes Ordinance on Heatwave Damage

Assembly Member Choi Ho-jeong Proposes Ordinances to Protect the Lives and Safety of Seoul Citizens and Industrial Workers from Heatwaves

Ordinance on Prevention and Support for Heatwave Damage in Seoul

Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on Industrial Accident Prevention and Labor Safety and Health Support in Seoul

Choi Ho-jeong, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from the People Power Party (People Power Party Representative Member, Seocho 4), has proposed the Ordinance on Prevention and Support for Heatwave Damage in Seoul and a partial amendment to the Ordinance on Industrial Accident Prevention and Labor Safety and Health Support in Seoul. These ordinances require Seoul to take preventive and supportive measures to protect Seoul citizens and industrial workers from heat-related illnesses caused by heatwaves.

In September 2018, the revision of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety added heatwaves as a natural disaster, enabling support for victims of heatwave damage.

Accordingly, the Ordinance on Prevention and Support for Heatwave Damage in Seoul was proposed to regulate measures against heatwaves and prevention of citizen damage through an ordinance, aiming to minimize harm to the lives and health of Seoul citizens caused by heatwaves.

According to the results of the heat-related illness surveillance system operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, there were 110 heat-related illness patients in the Seoul area in 2022, and from May 20 to July 3, 2023, Seoul recorded 42 cases, the second highest nationwide.

Furthermore, while the average number of tropical nights in Seoul over 30 years (1991?2020) was 12.5 days, in 2018, tropical nights lasted for a staggering 26 days, increasing the number of sleepless nights each year. Heatwave damage is increasing due to the climate crisis.

With the ordinance proposal, a concrete solution for climate crisis response at the Seoul city level has been sought, establishing a long-term approach and heatwave measures reflecting regional characteristics, as well as providing an institutional basis for damage prevention and support.

Specifically, the mayor must prepare measures such as expanding and managing heatwave reduction facilities and support measures to protect vulnerable groups during heatwaves. The ordinance allows for conducting surveys to establish comprehensive heatwave countermeasures, appointing or designating disaster helpers, and when the Korea Meteorological Administration issues a heatwave warning, visiting vulnerable groups to conduct health checks, provide guidance on heatwave reduction facilities, and carry out support activities for heatwave response.

The concurrently proposed partial amendment to the Ordinance on Industrial Accident Prevention and Labor Safety and Health Support in Seoul requires employers to take preventive measures against disasters caused by heatwaves and cold waves. If there is a risk of such disasters occurring, employers must temporarily suspend work or extend break times, thereby providing strong protection for workers from heat-related and cold-related occupational diseases.

Recently, a discount store employee died from a heat-related illness while moving carts in an outdoor parking lot at a perceived temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, and heat-related illness cases at workplaces have been occurring one after another, highlighting the need for safety and health measures to prevent heat-related illnesses during heatwave periods at workplaces.

Assembly Member Choi Ho-jeong stated, “Through the ordinance proposal, we aim to establish fundamental measures focused on preventing loss of life among citizens and workers and supporting recovery from any damage incurred. The periods of heatwaves and tropical nights are increasing every year. We must recognize climate change as a new climate environment in our daily lives and transition to a disaster management system that is much more strengthened than before.”

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