The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) has raised the heat wave disaster crisis alert by one level in response to the nationwide spread of extreme heat and instructed relevant agencies and local governments to strengthen on-site response measures.

On July 10, MOIS held a heat wave response status review meeting and upgraded the heat wave disaster crisis alert from 'Attention' to 'Caution,' effective from 3:00 PM that day. The decision was made to strengthen preemptive response measures, as heat wave advisories are rapidly expanding nationwide and high temperatures along with tropical nights are expected to persist for the time being.

The government raised its response level, judging that the prolonged heat wave is highly likely to continue, with heat wave advisories currently in effect across many parts of the country. During the meeting, officials expected that after the weekend, tropical nights—where temperatures do not drop significantly even at night—would occur across most of the country, not only during the day. Accordingly, they reviewed each agency's response system and held intensive discussions on measures to minimize casualties.

■ Strengthened Safety Management for Vulnerable Groups MOIS warned that with high humidity persisting following recent heavy rains, perceived temperatures during outdoor activities could rise significantly, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. The ministry accordingly requested enhanced safety management for heat-vulnerable groups, including the elderly, agricultural workers, and construction site laborers.

In particular, the government plans to actively utilize local safety personnel—such as village heads, community disaster prevention teams, and life support workers—to frequently check the health and well-being of elderly people living alone and other vulnerable groups. Field patrol activities will be expanded to ensure a swift response in the event of any abnormal symptoms. With the crisis alert upgraded to 'Caution,' patrols of agricultural fields and outdoor workplaces in rural areas will also be significantly strengthened.

The government is simultaneously promoting preventive measures to reduce damage to crops and livestock caused by the heat wave and has urged relevant agencies to respond thoroughly. In addition, to prepare for tropical nights, the government plans to extend the operating hours of cooling shelters and heat reduction facilities nationwide and improve accessibility so that citizens can take shelter from the heat at any time.

Kim Yong-kyun, Director-General of the Natural Disaster Management Bureau at MOIS, stated, "As the full-scale heat wave begins, relevant agencies and local governments must focus all their capabilities on protecting vulnerable groups and implementing field-centered responses." He added, "We ask citizens to familiarize themselves with heat wave safety guidelines and follow safety rules, including refraining from outdoor activities during daytime hours."

MOIS plans to continue closely monitoring weather conditions, continuously reviewing its response system in preparation for a prolonged heat wave, and cooperating with relevant agencies to minimize harm to the public.

[※ This article was produced using AI and was reconstructed based on publicly available materials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Republic of Korea Government Policy Briefing. Heat wave advisories and crisis alert levels may change depending on weather conditions, so please check the latest announcements from the Korea Meteorological Administration and MOIS.]