From welfare checks on vulnerable residents to fire prevention — the district's cold-wave response period runs through March 15 next year; 15 windbreak shelters and 10 smart shelters added at bus stops to ease the wait in winter cold
Seoul's Yongsan-gu is ramping up preparations for winter cold snaps, expanding welfare protections for vulnerable residents and rolling out a range of cold-weather facilities across the district.
The district aims to build a tighter welfare safety net to monitor the wellbeing of at-risk residents while also expanding shelters and amenities where all residents can escape the cold in their daily lives.
Yongsan-gu has designated the period from Sunday through March 15 next year as its official cold-wave response period, during which an emergency response system will be in operation.
A dedicated cold-wave task force — comprising a general situation team and a welfare response team — will continuously monitor weather conditions and strengthen protections for vulnerable residents and facility safety management. When a cold-wave advisory is issued, the district will activate a full cold-wave response headquarters, adding facility management and public information units to step up on-the-ground response.
Disaster relief assistants will also be deployed to protect vulnerable residents. They will check on health and safety through welfare calls and companionship visits, and guide residents on how to use cold-wave shelters and follow cold-weather safety guidelines.
In particular, 1,051 seniors enrolled in a customized care service will be contacted by phone first; if they cannot be reached, staff will visit in person to confirm their safety. Visiting nurses from 16 dong offices will call on elderly residents living alone and those with health vulnerabilities to assess their condition and provide cold-weather prevention education. Support for cold-weather and heating supplies, as well as emergency response training, will also be coordinated through community resources.
Fire safety support will be strengthened for the winter season as well. Gas safety inspections and automatic gas shutoff device installations will be carried out at 850 fire-vulnerable households, including those receiving basic livelihood benefits, people with disabilities, and near-poverty households. The district will also supply fire-escape towels and portable fire extinguishers, and support the replacement of circuit breakers and boiler flue pipes.
For outdoor workers at construction sites, the district plans to encourage rest breaks on-site when a cold-wave advisory is in effect and to recommend that each construction site conduct its own safety training.
Cold-weather facilities that residents can directly benefit from will also be expanded. Three more locations will be added this month to the district's climate-response warming and cooling lounges — small rest spaces equipped with heating and cooling units and seating that anyone can use during heat waves or cold snaps — bringing the total to 12.
Fifteen cold-wave windbreak shelters with seating inside will be installed near major bus stops to improve comfort for residents waiting for buses. The number of smart shelters near bus stops will grow from nine to 10, and 216 heated seats will be operated at bus stops and parks across the district.
The district has already completed pre-season inspections of cold-wave evacuation facilities, checking heating system operation, opening hours, and facility access. Regular inspections will continue through the winter. The district also plans to identify additional evacuation facilities so residents can find warmth nearby, and to reduce gaps in cold-wave coverage.
"Cold waves can threaten the daily lives of all residents, not just vulnerable groups, so advance preparation and swift response are essential," Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae said. "We will look after cold-vulnerable residents with care, operate a field-centered response system, and do our utmost to ensure that no resident is left out in the cold or put at risk — making this a safe winter for everyone in the district."
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