Interior ministry chief inspects heat shelters in Gapyeong

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Wednesday its disaster response chief inspected heat shelters and drone surveillance operations in Gapyeong County to ensure local governments are properly executing strengthened heat wave countermeasures.

Yoon Ho-joong, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, conducted the field visit on July 29, two days after the ministry elevated the heat wave crisis alert to the serious level and activated the headquarters. He checked operational status and promotional efforts at local shelters while listening to difficulties faced by managers and elderly users.

Yoon requested that frequently used shelters extend their operating hours to remain accessible during nights and weekends, urging continuous management and publicity to maximize resident utilization. He also observed drone surveillance activities, confirming how unmanned aircraft monitor rice paddies and outdoor workplaces difficult for personnel to inspect manually.

Yoon directed local officials to actively utilize drone-based monitoring in coordination with neighborhood heads and voluntary disaster response groups to rapidly detect emergencies among farmers and outdoor workers.

"As heat waves have become longer and heat-related illnesses have increased in recent years, it is important to conduct inspections focused on vulnerable groups such as residents of boarding houses," Yoon said. "We will cooperate with local governments to ensure heat wave measures, including extended shelter operations and drone surveillance, function without disruption to minimize damage."

In line with these efforts, the government has decided to shorten check-in cycles for vulnerable groups including solitary seniors, boarding house residents, and homeless individuals. Authorities will also guide outdoor laborers in fields and construction sites to suspend work during peak heat hours and ensure sufficient rest.

Separately, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is operating its heat-related illness emergency room surveillance system from May 15 through September 30, with participation from approximately 500 medical institutions nationwide providing daily occurrence data.