Nationwide 'heatwave shelters' increase 4.5-fold in 20 years

South Korea has expanded its network of public "heatwave shelters" dramatically, with approximately 93,375 facilities now operational across the country. This represents a 4.5-fold increase from the 20,048 shelters available in 2006, highlighting a sustained effort to protect citizens from extreme heat over the past two decades.

The shelters are established in various locations, including community centers, traditional Korean elder centers (gyoro-dang), private facilities, and specialized shelters for the homeless and mobile workers. The majority, numbering 70,045, are gyoro-dangs, followed by 15,908 in private, everyday-life-contact facilities, and 7,373 in public institutions.

This initiative, initially launched as part of the "Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan" in 2006 by the predecessor to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, aimed to provide vulnerable groups, such as the elderly living alone, access to cooling facilities. The expansion reflects a growing awareness and proactive approach to mitigating the health risks associated with increasingly severe heatwaves.