South Korean Prime Minister Han orders nationwide heat‑wave and drought response

Prime Minister Han Seong‑suk chaired an emergency meeting at the Government Seoul Complex, directing the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to be raised to Level 2 as heat‑wave conditions intensified and drought risks emerged in parts of the country. He instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to check cooling equipment in facilities for isolated seniors and other vulnerable residents and to monitor their well‑being. The Ministry of Employment and Labor was told to enforce basic safety rules at logistics centres and construction sites and to suspend work during the hottest hours. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs was asked to advise elderly farmers against outdoor field work and to cooperate with local governments on field inspections. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment must monitor power reserve margins and manage water supplies in drought‑prone regions, while the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should support livestock and aquaculture to prevent mass deaths. All ministries were urged to use public broadcasters, emergency alerts and digital signage to disseminate heat‑wave safety guidance.