Daegu heatwave shelters face criticism over limited access and hours

Daegu Metropolitan City is facing criticism regarding the effectiveness of its heatwave shelters. While the city has designated 1,196 shelters to combat extreme heat, local officials have pointed out significant limitations in their accessibility and operating hours.

According to Daegu City Council member Lim Hyo-shin, approximately 80.3% of these facilities close around 6:00 PM, leaving only five locations operating 24 hours a day. This schedule fails to support outdoor workers, such as delivery drivers and night security personnel, who require shelter during evening heatwaves. Furthermore, 62.4% of the shelters are located in member-only facilities like senior centers, which restricts access for the general public.

Additional concerns were raised regarding accessibility for the disabled and those with mobility issues, noting that many facilities lack proper ramps or wide entrances. There has also been criticism regarding the reduction of mobile heatwave shelter buses, which decreased from 20 units last year to 10 this year. In response, Daegu city officials stated they would review the issues and work on improvement measures.