Gwangmyeong City Prioritizes Citizen Safety Amid Ongoing Heatwave... Launches Practical Daily-Life Measures

Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan Implemented Until September 30
18 Key Initiatives Across Four Major Areas Under Intensive Management
Strengthened Practical Protection, Including Operation of 167 Cooling Shelters
Heat-Related Illness Monitoring System Established to Prevent Heatwave-Related Harm

Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province is prioritizing citizens' safety by implementing a practical, daily-life-focused response to the ongoing heatwave.

Gwangmyeong City has designated the period from the 15th to September 30th as the heatwave response promotion period and will implement the '2026 Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan'. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

The city has designated the period from May 15th to September 30th as the heatwave response implementation period and is rolling out the “2026 Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan.”

The Korea Meteorological Administration has predicted a high probability that the average temperature from May to July this year will be above normal. Gwangmyeong City also recorded 44 heatwave days during last year’s heatwave response period, making preemptive measures essential.

Accordingly, the city plans to focus on preventing heatwave-related harm through 18 initiatives across four key areas: establishing a heatwave situation management system; advancing practical protection measures for daily life; expanding and managing facilities to reduce heatwave damage; and promoting citizen awareness and improving public perception.

First, when a heatwave advisory or warning is issued, a joint response team led by the Safety Management Division will be activated, and the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will be operated according to the crisis level. Heatwave alerts will be rapidly communicated through disaster text messages and interdepartmental cooperation networks, and citizens will be advised on precautionary actions such as refraining from outdoor activities during peak heat hours.

Gwangmyeong City has designated the period from the 15th to September 30th as the heatwave response period and will implement the "2026 Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan." Installation of shade shelters. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

The city will closely manage heat-related illnesses in cooperation with medical institutions. Emergency medical centers at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital and Gwangmyeong Seongae Hospital will participate, monitoring daily cases of heat-related illnesses and suspected deaths, and maintaining a reporting system with the public health center, Gyeonggi Province, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Citizens vulnerable to heatwaves will receive special attention. The city will operate 167 cooling shelters at public offices, senior centers, welfare centers, and smart bus stops. In the event of a heatwave advisory or warning, at least one shelter per neighborhood will be extended or additionally opened. For seniors living alone, people with severe disabilities, and other health-vulnerable groups, welfare checks and home healthcare visits will be conducted simultaneously.

To help lower the perceived temperature in urban areas, the city will expand practical facilities. It will operate and manage 177 existing shade shelters and 50 newly-installed ones this year, and will add three more smart bus stops. Gwangmyeong will also implement urban heat island mitigation projects such as road water spraying vehicles, evaporative cooling devices (cooling fog), heat-reflective roofs (cool roofs), and children's water play areas.

Gwangmyeong City has designated the period from the 15th to September 30th as the heatwave response promotion period and will implement the '2026 Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan.' Free rental of conscience parasols. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

The city will also strengthen guidance on precautionary actions. Using the Gwangmyeong City website, social media, and the KakaoTalk channel, real-time updates and heatwave safety instructions will be provided. In addition, 33 locations—including City Hall, neighborhood administrative welfare centers, welfare centers, and libraries—will offer free “conscience sunshade” rentals to help prevent heat-related illnesses.

Choi Hyemin, acting mayor (and vice mayor) of Gwangmyeong City, stated, “The key to heatwave response is to identify risk factors in advance and operate protection systems close to citizens’ daily lives. We will strengthen our response system to ensure that everyone can spend the summer safely by carefully promoting the protection of vulnerable groups, monitoring for heat-related illnesses, and operating heatwave mitigation facilities.”

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