President Lee Jae-myung stated on August 4 that the ongoing record heatwave should be regarded as a national disaster. He urged officials to take swift and comprehensive measures to protect citizens' lives.
During a government meeting at the Blue House, President Lee noted, "The country is experiencing unprecedented heat, with some southern regions exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days, making daily life difficult for many citizens."
He expressed concern over the severe impact of the heat, reporting nearly 2,000 heat-related illnesses and 16 deaths since May. He also highlighted significant losses in livestock and crops due to the extreme weather.
"The bigger issue is the likelihood of extreme weather persisting for a considerable time due to climate anomalies," he added. He reiterated the need to treat the situation as a national disaster and called for urgent action to safeguard the public.
President Lee emphasized that the top priority is to protect lives, urging careful consideration of support measures for vulnerable groups, such as residents of goshiwons (small, inexpensive rooms) and elderly individuals living alone. He also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of workers in outdoor and confined spaces.
Additionally, he called for focused inspections to ensure that workers' rights to stop work are effectively implemented and urged efforts to expand heat relief shelters and increase their usage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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