South Korea emergency response under Prime Minister Han

In late July 2026, South Korea’s Prime Minister Han concluded a series of emergency economic monitoring meetings that had been convened to address geopolitical risks from the Middle‑East conflict. Responsibility for the response was shifted to the deputy prime minister, with measures announced to secure oil supplies, cap oil prices, cut fuel taxes and crack down on market‑disruption practices. The government also highlighted summer public‑safety checks and reported a 3.8 % year‑on‑year growth in the first half of the year, signalling resilience amid external shocks.

A few days later, in early August, the same prime minister chaired an emergency meeting to tackle a severe domestic heat‑wave and emerging drought conditions. The central disaster headquarters was raised to Level 2, and ministries were directed to protect vulnerable populations, suspend work during peak heat, monitor power reserves, manage water supplies, and support livestock and aquaculture. Public alerts and digital signage were ordered to disseminate safety guidance nationwide.

Together, the snapshots illustrate how the Han administration rapidly pivoted from an externally focused economic stabilization effort to a comprehensive domestic climate‑related emergency response, employing a coordinated, multi‑ministerial approach to safeguard both the economy and public health.