Interior ministry issues heatwave guidance for Ulchi drills

The interior ministry on Tuesday issued heatwave safety guidance for Ulchi Exercise drills, telling agencies to adjust or halt activities as forecast peak temperatures are expected to reach 33-35 degrees Celsius.

The exercise runs from Aug. 18 to 21. The ministry said it drew up the guidance to prevent heat-related illnesses and disruptions to training.

Agencies are to tailor outdoor sessions to the heat alert level and conditions at each site.

Under a heatwave advisory, agencies should adjust the timing and intensity of outdoor training, ensure participants have water, shaded or air-conditioned spaces and sufficient rest, and minimize outdoor activity for people vulnerable to heat.

At a heatwave warning, the guidelines call for shorter or smaller outdoor drills and adjusted schedules, with training moved indoors where needed. If safety cannot be secured, outdoor activity should be halted. At the highest heatwave alert, outdoor drills in the affected area should generally stop, with exercises delayed, rescheduled or replaced by indoor training.

Kim Kwang-yong, head of the interior ministry's Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, said, "As the Ulchi Exercise is an important drill for checking national emergency preparedness, participant safety must remain the top priority even in heatwave conditions." Before drills, agencies must check weather information and heat alerts, assess exposure risks at each venue and monitor participants during training. People with heat illness should be moved immediately to shade or an air-conditioned space to lower their body temperature; urgent cases require a 119 call and transfer to a medical facility.