Volunteers at 15 branches nationwide to conduct health checks and emotional support visits

Red Cross volunteers load summer bedding sets to be delivered to disaster-vulnerable households ahead of the hot season. [Korean Red Cross]
Red Cross volunteers load summer bedding sets to be delivered to disaster-vulnerable households ahead of the hot season. [Korean Red Cross]

The Korean Red Cross announced Monday it will carry out its 2026 summer heat disaster relief project to prevent harm caused by extreme heat.

The annual project targets those most vulnerable to heat-related harm, including the elderly, people with disabilities and low-income households.

Recipients are selected through referrals from the organization's 15 regional branches and partner agencies. They will receive comprehensive care services through Red Cross volunteers, including summer supplies, cooling cost support, health checkups and emotional support.

This year, the project will deliver summer bedding sets worth approximately 600 million won to more than 20,000 households. Binggrae contributed 90 million won ($58,300) toward the effort, with the remainder funded by Red Cross membership fees.

Households that do not receive government energy vouchers will also be eligible for up to 50,000 won to help cover a portion of their electricity and gas bills.

Kim Hong-guk, acting president of the Korean Red Cross, said concerns are growing over the health and lifestyle safety of vulnerable neighbors as extreme heat becomes an everyday disaster risk driven by climate change. "The Korean Red Cross will continue to support them so they can get through the summer safely," he said.

The Korean Red Cross — a legally designated disaster management and relief agency — has provided roughly 3 billion won worth of summer supplies and cooling cost support to 97,000 disaster-vulnerable households nationwide over the past five years through the program.


thlee@heraldcorp.com