Gyeonggi Province Launches Comprehensive Heatwave Plan... Activates Four Key Proactive Strategies

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has established a comprehensive heatwave response plan and has begun its full-scale implementation.

In line with the heatwave emergency alert that will be enforced starting next month, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced on the 18th that it is reorganizing its situation management system and has been implementing heatwave measures since the 15th. The heatwave emergency alert is the highest-level heat advisory, issued when the apparent temperature remains at or above 38°C for a sustained period.

Depending on the level of heatwave crisis alert, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government will operate a joint task force (TF) and, upon issuance of the emergency alert, will immediately activate the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to inspect damages by city and county, and take steps to prevent heatwave-related harm to vulnerable groups.

This year, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government has devised four main strategies for heatwave response: ▲Establishing a proactive heatwave response system ▲Implementing resident-centered heatwave measures ▲Strengthening preventive measures against heatwave damage ▲Promoting governance-based heatwave response.

First, when the heatwave emergency alert is issued, all provincial construction sites will halt daytime work and adjust working hours. Outdoor sports events will be postponed or canceled, and if unavoidable, response personnel will be deployed on-site. In preparation for nighttime heat warnings, the government will actively extend the operating hours of cooling shelters during the night.

Additionally, financial support will be expanded for vulnerable groups such as seniors requiring care and the homeless. A total of 4.6 billion won—including 2.4 billion won from the Disaster Management Fund and 2.2 billion won from the Disaster Relief Fund—will be quickly allocated to expand heat mitigation facilities such as shade structures at 1,227 locations. To enhance resident convenience, the government will also increase the distribution of heatwave prevention supplies such as bottled water and fans to vulnerable groups.

The Gyeonggi Climate Insurance, which has been automatically enrolling all residents since last year, will also see expanded coverage. This year, the diagnosis benefit for heat-related illnesses will increase from 100,000 won to 150,000 won, and new benefits will be introduced for death condolence payments (3 million won) and emergency room visit expenses, to provide tangible support for residents affected by climate disasters.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Furthermore, 112 workplace safety monitors will be deployed across 31 cities and counties to inspect rest facilities at industrial sites and ensure that workers can take breaks during heatwave advisories.

For community-based monitoring and outreach activities, 3,600 members of the autonomous disaster prevention corps will be mobilized. They will focus on on-site heatwave prevention by monitoring the operation of cooling shelters and conducting inspections in heat-vulnerable areas.

Promotional efforts to prevent heatwave damage will also be strengthened. Using disaster management funds, the government will promote heatwave safety guidelines through video display devices in apartment elevators (over 40,000 units), G-bus TV screens (over 16,000 units), and leaflets (about 58,000 copies).

Kim Sungjung, First Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "A heatwave is no longer simply about high temperatures, but a disaster threatening the lives and health of our residents. In line with the introduction of the heatwave emergency alert, we will strengthen our situation management system and implement heatwave measures on the ground, focusing on the protection of vulnerable groups and outdoor workers."

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