South Korea launches heat‑wave safety shelters and AI‑driven heat‑illness alerts

South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a suite of life‑close services to reduce health risks from this summer’s unusually high temperatures. Free public "heat shelters" have been set up in welfare centers, libraries, banks and other venues, with extended hours during heat‑watch periods, and new "smart shelters" offering reading and rest spaces in park areas near residential districts.

The fire service now operates nationwide “119 heat‑emergency units” equipped with ice vests, ice packs and other cooling equipment to provide on‑site treatment for heat‑related conditions. In addition, the Korea Meteorological Administration and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency have released an AI‑based heat‑illness prediction service that forecasts the risk level for the next three days in four tiers, using eleven years of weather and health data. The forecasts are accessible through the Safety Steps app, map services and government portals such as WeatherNuri and the Health Risk Integrated Information System.

Officials said the measures aim to protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with chronic illnesses and will continue to be promoted via official websites and social‑media channels.