Seongbuk-gu signs MOU with Wolgok Health Land, expanding safety shelter network to four sites; facilities offer 24-hour temporary housing during extreme heat and cold
Seoul's Seongbuk-gu signed an MOU with Wolgok Health Land on June 25, expanding its network of safety shelters for vulnerable residents from three locations to four in preparation for extreme heat and cold.
The safety shelter program provides 24-hour access to sauna facilities as temporary housing for residents who are temporarily unable to stay in their homes due to heating or cooling system failures, burst pipes, or power outages, as well as those living in climate-vulnerable conditions such as single-room lodgings or below-ground housing.
Seongbuk-gu has operated the safety shelter program since 2024, and it has since served as a reference model for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's cold-snap bathhouse initiative.
Wolgok Health Land joins the existing three sites — Samson Sauna, Hanjin Bulgama Sauna and Jeong-an Sauna — bringing the total to four. The expansion distributes shelters across residential areas so vulnerable residents can reach one more easily.
Yoon Jae-seong, representative of Wolgok Health Land, said it was meaningful to be able to offer a safe space for local residents struggling through extreme heat and cold. "We will continue to actively take part in spreading a culture of sharing and safety together with the community," he said.
Seongbuk-gu District Mayor Lee Seung-ro said the expansion to four shelters means more residents can be protected from extreme weather. "We will continue to build a tighter safety net for vulnerable residents through public-private cooperation," he said.
Seongbuk-gu plans to continue expanding the shelter network through partnerships with private facilities and to strengthen outreach so that vulnerable residents are aware of and can readily use the program when needed.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
