The number of shade structures installed across the country has increased to 39,514, allowing citizens to escape the sun at crosswalks and other public areas. This marks a sevenfold increase compared to the 5,662 structures recorded in 2019, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety.
On August 7, the ministry announced that it is working with local governments to expand heat mitigation facilities, including shade structures, and is providing 30 billion won in funding for heatwave measures this year.
The total number of shade structures has steadily risen from 5,662 in 2019 to 14,127 in 2020, 18,890 in 2021, 24,144 in 2022, 27,631 in 2023, 32,196 in 2024, and 34,552 last year. This year, 39,514 structures have been installed.
Of these, 30,351 are foldable shade structures, while 9,163 are smart shade structures equipped with features to detect temperature and wind.
Regionally, Gyeonggi Province has the highest number of shade structures at 15,221, followed by Seoul with 4,958, Incheon with 2,521, Gwangju and Jeonnam with 2,251, Chungnam with 1,915, and Gyeongnam with 1,750.
The first shade structures in South Korea appeared in the summer of 2006, when black awnings were installed in temporary housing for flood victims in Pyeongchang. That same year, the National Emergency Management Agency included support for 999 residential shade structures in its summer heatwave response plan.
The first urban shade structure for pedestrians was the foldable 'Seoripul Wondumak' installed in front of a crosswalk in Seocho District, Seoul, in 2015. In 2017, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recognized shade structures as road accessory facilities, and in 2019, the Ministry of Interior and Safety established guidelines for the installation and management of shade structures in preparation for heatwaves.
Recently, shade structures that incorporate local characteristics and technology have been on the rise. In Gwangjin District, Seoul, smart shade structures that detect temperature and wind are in operation, while Busan's Buk District has installed shade structures with misting devices.
In Cheonan, Chungnam Province, yellow shade structures linked to 'yellow carpets' in child protection zones and dual-purpose shade structures with seating for the elderly are being utilized. Some areas even repurpose them as Christmas trees or flower pots during the winter.
This summer has seen record-breaking temperatures, the highest since weather observations began in 1904. In response, the government has activated a two-tiered response system through the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, expanding the newly introduced heatwave alert system.
Kim Kwang-yong, head of the Disaster and Safety Management Bureau at the Ministry of Interior and Safety, stated, "We will continue to expand heat mitigation facilities like shade structures so that everyone can feel safe from heatwaves in their daily lives."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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