North Gyeongsang Province launches enhanced heat wave prevention plan for 2026

North Gyeongsang Province has launched a strengthened comprehensive heat wave prevention plan for this year.

According to the province, it will operate a preemptive emergency response system aligned with the newly introduced "severe heat wave alert" tier — a category added this year following the Korea Meteorological Administration's overhaul of its heat wave warning system — and will expand operation of its joint heat wave response task force through Sept. 30.

The province noted that more than 30 percent of heat-related illness cases last year occurred at indoor and outdoor worksites. It has accordingly expanded the joint task force from 27 members across 12 departments to 37 members across 17 departments, strengthening field-centered response capabilities.

To prevent heat wave damage, the province has also reorganized its list of heat-sensitive groups into seven categories under three broad areas, enabling more targeted management.

For vulnerable elderly residents and similar groups, lifestyle support workers and dedicated visiting health management personnel will be deployed to conduct welfare checks and health monitoring. Heat illness prevention officers and farm safety managers will also be stationed to significantly bolster surveillance at vulnerable farming households.

The province has additionally designated residents of temporary prefabricated housing in wildfire-affected areas as a new "wildfire-damage sensitive group" — recognizing their heightened exposure to climate disasters — and will conduct regular safety inspections and tailored monitoring for them.

To minimize heat-related losses, the province will invest 58.5 billion won (about $42.2 million) in the farming sector for crop and livestock disaster insurance support and livestock facility improvement projects, 16.5 billion won in the livestock sector, and 3.8 billion won in the fisheries sector to address abnormal water temperatures and other heat-related risks.

The province will also provide a total of 5.7 billion won in early disbursements to 22 cities and counties — comprising 100 million won for heat wave prevention project costs, 2.7 billion won in special disaster safety grants, and 2.9 billion won for senior center cooling expenses — to get ahead of potential heat wave damage.

"This year, in line with our strengthened comprehensive heat wave measures, we will do everything in our power to proactively protect the lives and property of our residents," said Kim Jong-su, director of the province's safety and administration office. He urged residents to familiarize themselves with official public safety guidelines and put them into practice in their daily lives ahead of what is expected to be an intense summer.