![A scene from the second Pongdang Pongdang Water Play Festival. [Yeongyang-gun]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/14/news-p.v1.20260723.c53ae6bb490c4fedb45550a0c36df244_P1.jpg)
The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Friday it will extend the "Summer Water Safety Management Period" by two weeks through Sept. 13, pushing past its original end-of-August deadline.
The decision reflects the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast that above-average temperatures will persist beyond August, as well as the occurrence of water-related accidents as late as September last year.
During the extended period, local governments will flexibly deploy safety personnel, concentrating resources on areas with high visitor traffic or elevated accident risk based on weather conditions and demand for water activities.
On weekends in particular, on-site staffing will be increased, with stepped-up patrols of hazardous zones and tighter safety management at those locations.
The ministry will also maintain coordination with relevant agencies and local governments, continuously monitoring water safety conditions until the period concludes.
To help local governments meet the additional safety management demands created by the extension, the ministry will provide 8 billion won ($5.65 million) in special disaster safety grants.
The funds are earmarked for water safety management at rivers, valleys, beaches and other recreational water sites, covering extended deployment of safety personnel, patrols and access control at hazardous zones, expansion of safety equipment such as life jackets, and public outreach on safety rules.
"Water activities are expected to continue into September as the late summer heat lingers, so we will extend the safety management period to ensure there are no gaps in on-site oversight," Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung said. He urged the public to observe basic water safety rules, including wearing life jackets and staying out of restricted zones.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
