Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announces heatwave support inspection

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said that Second Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyeon would inspect heatwave-response facilities and cooling assistance for vulnerable households in Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul, as it steps up protection against increasingly severe heat.

Lee will visit the waterway rest shelter at Munrae Neighborhood Park with Yeongdeungpo Mayor Cho Yu-jin to review operations and hear from staff, then visit an elderly household that received a high-efficiency air conditioner under this year's energy-efficiency improvement program.

The waterway rest shelter was established through a 2024 climate-crisis vulnerable-group support project that provided waterway shelters and cooling-fog facilities at seven parks in Yeongdeungpo-gu.

Since 2022, the ministry has operated 128 heat shelters for vulnerable people, including outdoor workers, and plans to operate 24 more nationwide by the end of August. It said installations of Grade 1 energy-efficiency air conditioners were completed by late July in 19,000 vulnerable households and 500 welfare facilities.

Lee will also ask officials from the Korea Energy Agency and Korea Energy Foundation to work with local governments to minimize gaps in energy access for vulnerable groups. The ministry said it is pursuing tailored support based on regional surveys of climate-vulnerable groups.

Energy vouchers for cooling costs have been available since July 1, with new applications accepted from June 15 through Dec. 31 at local administrative welfare centers and on the Bokjiro website. The program provides an average of 367,000 won ($259) per household.

"With heatwaves becoming commonplace amid the climate crisis, protecting the health and safety of vulnerable people is more important than anything else," Lee said.