President Lee Jae-myung delivers opening remarks at a meeting to review responses to heat waves and drought, held at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room at the Government Complex Seoul on the 6th. Reporter Kwon Wook
President Lee Jae-myung on the 6th urged government ministries and local governments to “mobilize all available personnel and resources and do everything possible to minimize damage from the heat wave.”
Lee made the remarks at a meeting reviewing the response to the heat wave and drought, which he chaired at the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room in the Government Complex Seoul that day. “The most important thing the government must do is protect the lives and safety of the people,” he said. “Extreme heat we have never experienced before is continuing day after day,” Lee said. “As the heat wave is likely to persist for some time, I ask the government to operate an all-encompassing response system with extraordinary resolve until the heat wave eases.”
In particular, Lee called for authorities to “look more carefully after vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone and residents of jjokbang (subdivided single-room housing for the poor) districts, and to strengthen protective measures by directly visiting those who have difficulty using cooling facilities to check on their well-being.” He also stressed, “Thoroughly inspect worksites to ensure that work stoppages or rest periods during the hottest hours at outdoor sites are properly implemented, and make sure safety rules are strictly observed.” He added, “Take every precaution to prevent damage to livestock, farmed fish, and crops, and closely manage the safety of social infrastructure such as roads and railways, as well as the power supply situation.”
Regarding the drought conditions in the southern regions, Lee said, “As there is no rain forecast for the time being, we must actively pursue measures such as supplying alternative water and operating pumping equipment to ensure there is no disruption in stable water supply.” He also instructed, “In areas without piped water, such as islands and mountainous regions, pursue medium- and long-term measures such as developing alternative water sources, in addition to short-term steps like emergency water supply.”
He continued, “Mobilize all administrative capacity so that the harm to the people from the heat wave and drought can be minimized. I ask each agency to respond with a sense of responsibility so that the public can feel the effects of the response, and to thoroughly look after the health and safety of frontline response personnel such as public officials, police, firefighters, and volunteers.”