Hanam City Mobilizes for Heatwave Response... Full Operation of Ice Refrigerators and Smart Shade Shelters

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) is launching a series of community-focused preventive measures to proactively respond to summer heatwaves, including the installation of "ice refrigerators" along walking trails and the operation of smart shade shelters.

Hanam City operates smart shade shelters to proactively respond to summer heatwaves. Photo by Hanam City

Starting from July 1 to August 31, "ice refrigerators" will be installed at six major walking trails, with bottled water replenished five times a day and provided free of charge to citizens. The total supply is expected to reach approximately 650,000 bottles.

This initiative aims to prevent heat-related illnesses during outdoor activities. The installation sites include a total of six locations: the entrance park of Sanggokcheon, the riverside path next to the rowing stadium, the endpoint of Moraetgil, the area near the Misari Prehistoric Site, the neighborhood park in front of City Hall, and Misahangang No. 4 Park.

To enhance the effectiveness of this project, which received a strong positive response from citizens last year, the city has introduced a real-time CCTV monitoring system this year to enable rapid on-site response. In addition, the city plans to supply label-free bottled water to contribute to its eco-friendly policies.

This year, the city newly installed 46 smart shade shelters and converted 43 existing standard shade shelters to smart types, thereby establishing a total of 373 smart shade shelters citywide. As a result, Hanam has become the first city in the country to operate "100% smart shade shelters."

Smart shade shelters are more than just convenience facilities; they are a core project of the "smart safety city" strategy, integrating advanced technology into urban infrastructure to actively respond to heatwaves and enhance citizens' sense of safety.

These facilities have been in full operation since May 1 and will be flexibly managed until the end of the heatwave period. In addition, the city has installed 11 smart shelters, 39 cooling benches, and 293 air blowers at major bus stops and other locations to create a comfortable waiting environment that can automatically respond to rapidly changing weather conditions.

Furthermore, the city's 237 cooling centers are being used to prevent heat-related illnesses by inspecting air conditioning systems and extending operating hours, as well as to protect vulnerable groups such as seniors living alone. The city is also providing tailored services through its home health care program, which includes health status checks, guidance on coping with heatwaves, and connections to cooling centers.

In addition, Hanam City plans to distribute a total of 4,070 heatwave prevention items in seven categories, such as fans, using special grants from Gyeonggi Province. The Hanam City Community Disaster Prevention Corps is also actively engaged in local activities such as pest control, shelter inspections, and public awareness campaigns for prevention.

Mayor Lee Hyunjae stated, "We will continue to expand heatwave response measures that citizens can feel in their daily lives, such as ice refrigerators and smart shade shelters," adding, "We will pay special attention to ensuring that vulnerable groups, including seniors and children, can spend the summer safely, and we will focus administrative efforts on heatwave response in everyday life."

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