If the top-tier heat wave advisory level, the ‘Heat Wave Critical Alert,’ is issued this summer, welfare checks for vulnerable groups such as seniors living alone will be increased to twice a day. Outdoor activities in senior job programs will also be fully suspended in the sweltering heat.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 3rd that it will implement the ‘Measures to Protect Vulnerable Groups in Summer 2026.’ The government has newly established the ‘Heat Wave Critical Alert,’ which, starting on the 1st, is issued in areas at the heat wave warning level even when only one day is forecast to see either a daily maximum heat index of 38 degrees or a daily maximum temperature of 39 degrees or higher. These measures focus on strengthening the protection system for vulnerable groups, in line with the expansion of heat wave advisories to three stagesHeat Wave Advisory·Heat Wave Warning·Heat Wave Critical Alert.

Specifically, when a Heat Wave Critical Alert is issued, the frequency with which frontline welfare workers check on high-risk vulnerable seniors who have mobility difficulties or who work in farming and fishing communities will increase from once daily (during an advisory or warning) to twice daily (by phone or in person). Vulnerable seniors who are not in the high-risk category will also receive a daily check-in during a Critical Alert.

Protection will also be strengthened for residents of jjokbang districts, people experiencing homelessness, and those at risk of solitary death. Among jjokbang residents, high-risk groups such as older adults, persons with disabilities, and people with underlying conditions will receive a daily check-in during a Heat Wave Critical Alert. In addition to the three daily patrols conducted during a Heat Wave Advisory or Warning, outreach workers will, during a Critical Alert, conduct additional checks on high-risk individuals such as older adults among those sleeping rough. For those at high risk of solitary death, human safety networks such as honorary social welfare officials will be utilized to check in by phone, text, or visits once every two days.

A separate guidance system will operate for seniors with dementia. When a Heat Wave Critical Alert is issued, 1.01 million seniors with dementia registered with Dementia Safety Centers and their families will receive rapid updates via KakaoTalk on the weather advisory situation and heat response guidelines. Among the 72,000 people receiving tailored case management for dementia, about 7,000 who are expected to be vulnerable to heat waves, taking into account family composition and disease severity, will receive a daily check-in.

Protective measures will also be strengthened for participants in senior job programs that involve outdoor work during heat waves. Senior job programs may shorten summer activity hours from a monthly average of 30 hours to 15 hours. When a Heat Wave Critical Alert is issued, all outdoor activities will be halted, participants will be sent home immediately or reassigned to indoor activities with air conditioning, and the health status of all participants will be checked immediately. For participants in jobs for persons with disabilities, start and end times can be adjusted during heat waves or heavy rain, and workplaces can be shifted indoors.

Measures to ease the burden of cooling costs for vulnerable groups and to prevent gaps in care will proceed in parallel. The number of households eligible for energy vouchers for energy-vulnerable groups, such as basic livelihood recipients, will increase from 1,307,000 to 1.44 million. In July-August, senior centers nationwide will receive 165,000 won per month for cooling, and social welfare facilities will receive 100,000 to 500,000 won per month depending on size.

For jjokbang residents who lack air conditioners and other cooling devices, fans and similar items will be provided according to demand, and visitors to ‘Just Give Corners’ nationwide will be offered ice water to prevent heat-related illness. The number of days senior centers provide meals will also be expanded to five per week. In addition, during the summer vacation period, meals will be provided mainly through more than 5,600 community childcare institutions nationwide for children at risk of missing meals, and 343 of these institutions will offer extended evening care so that no child is left alone late at night.

Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-Kyeong said, “Summer-season disasters come to everyone, but their risks reach vulnerable groups earlier and more severely,” and “We will find those who need help first, check on them frequently, and provide robust support to place the lives and safety of the people above all else.”