Cold-weather response period runs from Sunday through March 15 next year
Maps posted at community centers, senior facilities to help digitally underserved residents
District office lobby to open on weekends when cold-wave alerts are issued
Seoul's Geumcheon-gu has produced a printed guide map showing the locations of 50 cold-weather shelters across the district to help residents stay warm this winter.
The district said it launched a cold-weather response period running from Sunday through March 15 next year, and has posted the maps at neighborhood community centers, senior centers and welfare facilities so residents can easily find the nearest shelter.
All 50 shelters are open to any resident, and the district said it is continuing to identify new sites to improve accessibility.
The printed map was designed with digitally underserved residents in mind — particularly older adults who have difficulty using the internet or smartphones — allowing them to locate nearby shelters without having to search online.
Shelter locations can also be found on the National Safety 24 website and through Naver and Google Maps. The district said it will update the printed map whenever a shelter is added, removed or changes its operating details.
Hours and days of operation vary by facility, and some shelters extend their hours when a cold-wave alert is in effect. The first-floor lobby of the Geumcheon-gu District Office will also open on weekends whenever such an alert is issued.
Residents are advised to check the district office website or call the facility directly before visiting to confirm operating hours and availability.
"We hope the shelter map will make it easy for seniors and other residents who have difficulty accessing digital information to find a nearby shelter," District Mayor Choi Ki-chan said. "We will continue to improve how we operate and communicate about cold-weather shelters so that all residents can have a safe and warm winter."
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