Environment Vice Minister Inspects Heatwave Site: "Will Discover More Response Facilities"

by Song Seungseop

Published 12 Aug.2024 16:35(KST)

Updated 13 Aug.2024 10:39(KST)

Lee Byung-hwa, Vice Minister of Environment (center), visiting an outdoor worker rest area installed to respond to the heatwave at Saemmeri Park, Seo-gu, Daejeon on the 12th. Photo by Ministry of Environment

Lee Byung-hwa, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment, inspected a mobile heatwave center for outdoor public workers on the 12th and visited a senior citizens' center designated as a heatwave shelter to provide response supplies.

Vice Minister Lee, along with Jang Dong-eon, Director of the Korea Meteorological Administration, and Seo Cheol-mo, Mayor of Seo-gu, Daejeon, visited the operation site of the mobile heatwave center for outdoor public workers installed at Saemmeori Park in Seo-gu, Daejeon. The mobile heatwave center is a device designed considering the characteristics of outdoor workers who move around wide areas such as roadsides or parks. It is a container on wheels equipped with air conditioning and heating units and chairs.

Following this, Vice Minister Lee visited a heatwave shelter senior citizens' center in Wolpyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, delivered heatwave response supplies, and provided guidance on action protocols. The supplies were prepared through donations raised by public participation on the online fundraising platform Naver Happybean and corporate sponsorships.

Vice Minister Lee stated, “As heatwaves intensify, vulnerable groups to the climate crisis tend to suffer relatively greater damage. Every year, accidents resulting in deaths due to heatwaves occur repeatedly among those working in rice paddies and fields. Therefore, we plan to newly identify and expand support for rural-type heatwave response facilities suitable for greenhouse-dense areas.”