First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Hyun Su-yeop visited the Danwon-gu Senior Welfare Center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, at 3 p.m. on July 24 to check on the implementation of protection measures for vulnerable elderly residents during the heat wave, and personally visited the home of an elderly resident living alone nearby to see how they were coping with the summer heat. The visit came as the government strengthens safety checks on elderly residents through customized care life-support workers and the Emergency Safety Alert Service under the “2026 Heat Wave Protection Measures for Vulnerable Elderly,” which is being implemented during the heat wave response period (May to September), and was arranged to confirm firsthand whether the protection measures are actually functioning properly on the ground.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, about 560,000 elderly people living alone receive regular guidance on heat wave health precautions from their assigned life-support workers, and on days when a heat wave warning or similar advisory is in effect, the health status of high-risk elderly residents is checked once or twice a day by phone or in-person visit. For about 270,000 people, the Emergency Safety Alert Service provides real-time notifications when a heat-related emergency occurs.
 [코리안투데이] Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare © 송정숙 기자 |
These measures were developed out of concern that the heat waves that recur every year can be particularly dangerous for elderly people who live alone or have limited mobility. The government explained that even when air conditioning is available, many elderly residents have difficulty using it, and in emergencies there is often no one nearby to alert for help, making it important to combine regular welfare checks with a real-time crisis notification system.
That afternoon, Vice Minister Hyun visited the Danwon-gu Senior Welfare Center, an organization that carries out customized elderly care services, to review the state of heat wave response efforts, including safety checks on elderly residents, dissemination of guidance on proper action, and the establishment of emergency contact systems, and to hear the difficulties and suggestions raised by frontline workers. He emphasized to the staff that regular welfare checks and adherence to health precautions are essential to preventing loss of life, and asked them to ensure the safety measures are thoroughly carried out. He also thanked the life-support workers and other frontline staff who protect elderly residents’ lives on the ground for their efforts, and asked them to carefully look after their own safety as well.
After the visit to the welfare center, he went to the home of an elderly resident living alone in Danwon-gu, where he delivered summer bedding and daily necessities and closely checked the resident’s housing conditions, cooling situation, and living environment. He also listened to the resident’s opinions on welfare services, including the customized elderly care program they regularly use.
First Vice Minister Hyun Su-yeop said, “Heat waves can be a life-threatening disaster, especially for elderly people who live alone or have limited mobility,” adding, “I ask for special attention and support for our elderly residents.” He went on to say, “We will continue to work with local governments to monitor the implementation of protection measures for vulnerable elderly residents throughout the heat wave period, and we will strengthen our response system so that not a single elderly person falls through the cracks.”
송정숙 기자 | gangseo@thekoreantoday.com
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