A cooling center operated by Gwanak-gu district office
A cooling center operated by Gwanak-gu district office

Gwanak-gu, led by District Mayor Park Jun-hee, is rolling out a comprehensive summer safety plan to protect residents from seasonal hazards including heat waves, water play accidents and heavy rainfall.

Summer is a period of heightened disaster risk, with heat-related illness, water play accidents and localized downpours all posing serious threats.

In response, the district has activated prevention measures across three areas — heat waves, water activities and flooding — while actively promoting everyday safety guidelines and public emergency protocols to raise residents' safety awareness.

The district operates eight water play facilities across the area. Gwanaksan Park, Sillim Valley, Nakseongdae Park and Byeolbit Naerin Stream water play areas will remain open through Aug. 30, while those at Habsil, Saesup, Bian and Jungang Children's Park will operate through Aug. 23. On-site safety management has been strengthened at each facility.

To allow children and families to enjoy water activities safely and comfortably close to the city, the district is conducting thorough facility safety inspections, water quality checks and usage environment maintenance throughout the operating period. Lifeguards have been deployed at all water play facilities to prevent dangerous behavior, and staff regularly check weather conditions and facility status to strengthen on-site response.

Visitors to the water play facilities are advised to follow basic water safety rules: warm up thoroughly before entering the water; ensure children are always accompanied by a guardian; wear safety equipment such as life jackets; refrain from swimming after drinking alcohol; stop water activities immediately when a weather warning is issued; avoid deep water and hazardous areas; and call 119 immediately in an emergency.

In addition, the district has activated an emergency heat wave response system to minimize harm from major heat wave alerts. This includes operating a 24-hour emergency shelter at the district office and extending the hours of cooling centers at community service centers, senior centers and welfare facilities.

Alongside this, the district is strengthening safety management to protect heat-vulnerable groups such as elderly residents living alone and to prevent heat-related illness among outdoor workers.

Advance inspections against flooding from heavy rain and typhoons are also continuing. The district is intensifying monitoring of flood-prone areas and checking storm drains and drainage infrastructure for blockages or damage.

Gwanak-gu plans to continue providing summer public safety guidelines and information through its website, SNS channels and electronic signboards, building a safe community for residents through sector-specific preparedness and field-centered response systems.

"A small moment of carelessness in summer can lead to a serious accident, so I urge residents to practice safety rules in their daily lives when it comes to heat waves, water activities and heavy rain," District Mayor Park said. "Gwanak-gu will push ahead with sector-specific safety measures without fail and leave no gaps in our on-site response, so that all residents can have a safe and healthy summer."


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