This summer, it is expected that banks and NongHyup, Saemaul Geumgo, Emart, and other outlets will provide shelter from the heat.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 28th that it will sign a business agreement with 10 private companies, including the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, Saemaul Geumgo Central Association, National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, the National Credit Union, NH NongHyup, KB Kookmin, Woori, Hana, Shinhan Bank, and Emart, to promote the use of cooling centers.
Currently, there are over 60,000 cooling centers nationwide. However, there has been a problem in that they are primarily operated as public facilities, with specific facilities for certain groups such as senior centers occupying most of them, making it difficult for the general public to use.
With this business agreement, 7,820 private business outlets are expected to be additionally designated as cooling centers. Signs will be posted to help anyone easily find cooling centers, and they will operate during the same hours as each outlet.
A representative from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety noted, "Following last year's unprecedented heat wave, temperatures in July and September are expected to be higher than average this year," adding, "The additional designation of cooling centers is expected to have a significant effect on preventing heat-related illnesses."