1. Extreme heat: Reinforced support for senior citizens, homeless citizens, persons with disabilities, flophouse residents, and low-income citizens
2. Flood: Implementation of flooding prediction and warning system, expansion of flood-prevention facilities, and enhancement of safety measures for the socially marginalized
3. Safety: Strengthening safety inspection and management of public facilities, such as performance venues and parks, as well as accident-prone locations like construction sites
4. Health: Preparation of rapid return to normalcy, prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, safety management of public food, and reduction of air pollution

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is poised to operate the Seoul Metropolitan Disaster & Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for five months starting on May 15, intensifying implementation of its disaster-control measures in an effort to immaculately counter against potential accidents and disasters consequent of the heat wave and heavy rains this summer.

The city plans to run some 4,200 cooling shelters by augmenting 800 more of such. Starting this year, the city aims to reinforce support for vulnerable groups, benefitting them with energy vouchers to suffer less from extreme hot weather. Seoul will also implement its flooding prediction and warning system for the first time in the country and the local disaster assistance program designed to help people residing in semi-basement apartments evacuate with help from neighbors.

(Extreme heat) The city will install some 4,200 cooling centers for citizens to escape from scorching heat. It is also planning to provide customized support and protection to the socially disadvantaged: mobile showering booths to homeless citizens, air-conditioners to flophouse residents, and emergency relief services to people with severe mobility disabilities.

(Flood)The city will designate 13 working-level teams within the headquarters on emergency duty around-the-clock to take precaution against torrential rains and minimize damages from the downpours this summer. Under the flooding prediction and warning system, those teams will be in charge of taking actions against heavy rainfalls and possible disasters as well as manage the local disaster assistance program so that residents of semi-basement apartments are able to evacuate swiftly in advance. Moreover, the teams will be responsible for building flood-prevention facilities around underground houses, small-sized commercial zones, and heavy traffic roads.

(Safety) The city is scheduled to take preemptive safety measures by conducting severe disaster prevention fallbacks against typhoon outbreaks and strong wind. An inspection group is planning to conduct safety review on some 2,500 construction sites. In addition, the group will monitor subway stations and bus stops as well as performance venues and areas around the Hangang River where a number of people frequents.

(Health) The city is also preparing for adjustments in line with the central government’s easing of COVID-19 quarantine protocols and the return to normalcy as of Jun. 1. Starting next month with the downgraded level from the highest class 1 to class 2, the COVID-19 isolation period will be reduced from the current mandatory seven days to a recommended five days. The city will continue to support the people with medical treatments for the time being as a transitional measure.

An SMG official said, “Since heavy rains and extreme heat are highly anticipated this summer due to aggravating climate change, Seoul will do its utmost to protect citizens and properties from disasters by carrying out robust and impeccable safety measures. We urge all people to take the flood prediction and warning system into consideration and actively join in our energy-saving efforts during this summer.”