South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on August 2 ordered a thorough review of heatwave response measures as the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters raised its alert level to Stage 2 due to worsening heat conditions and concerns over drought damage in some areas.
Han instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to assess the implementation of heatwave measures by relevant ministries and local governments, emphasizing the need for coordinated and proactive responses across all agencies.
"Local governments must continuously visit heat-affected areas to ensure that cooling centers and heat mitigation facilities are operating effectively, and any necessary improvements should be addressed immediately," she said.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare was urged to check the cooling operations at senior centers and shelters frequented by vulnerable populations, such as the elderly living alone and residents of goshiwons (small, inexpensive rooms), and to conduct regular welfare checks through phone calls and visits.
Han also highlighted the need for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to actively broadcast warnings to elderly farmers about the dangers of outdoor work during the heat, as there have been numerous fatalities. She called for collaboration with local governments to conduct on-site inspections of outdoor work in greenhouses and fields.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor was tasked with checking compliance with the five basic safety rules for heatwaves at logistics centers and construction sites, ensuring that worker protection measures are being implemented, and guiding the suspension or adjustment of work hours during extreme heat.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries were instructed to quickly provide necessary support, such as operating cooling systems and high-temperature response equipment, to minimize livestock and aquaculture losses due to the heat.
The Ministry of Climate Change was directed to monitor power reserves and ensure stable electricity supply despite the surge in cooling demand due to the heatwave, while also managing water storage levels in dams and reservoirs to prevent shortages in drought-prone areas.
Han urged all ministries to utilize available media, including public broadcasting, disaster text alerts, electronic billboards, and community broadcasts, to swiftly communicate the heatwave situation to the public and provide detailed guidelines for heatwave preparedness.
Han instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to assess the implementation of heatwave measures by relevant ministries and local governments, emphasizing the need for coordinated and proactive responses across all agencies.
"Local governments must continuously visit heat-affected areas to ensure that cooling centers and heat mitigation facilities are operating effectively, and any necessary improvements should be addressed immediately," she said.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare was urged to check the cooling operations at senior centers and shelters frequented by vulnerable populations, such as the elderly living alone and residents of goshiwons (small, inexpensive rooms), and to conduct regular welfare checks through phone calls and visits.
Han also highlighted the need for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to actively broadcast warnings to elderly farmers about the dangers of outdoor work during the heat, as there have been numerous fatalities. She called for collaboration with local governments to conduct on-site inspections of outdoor work in greenhouses and fields.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor was tasked with checking compliance with the five basic safety rules for heatwaves at logistics centers and construction sites, ensuring that worker protection measures are being implemented, and guiding the suspension or adjustment of work hours during extreme heat.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries were instructed to quickly provide necessary support, such as operating cooling systems and high-temperature response equipment, to minimize livestock and aquaculture losses due to the heat.
The Ministry of Climate Change was directed to monitor power reserves and ensure stable electricity supply despite the surge in cooling demand due to the heatwave, while also managing water storage levels in dams and reservoirs to prevent shortages in drought-prone areas.
Han urged all ministries to utilize available media, including public broadcasting, disaster text alerts, electronic billboards, and community broadcasts, to swiftly communicate the heatwave situation to the public and provide detailed guidelines for heatwave preparedness.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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