Coping with heatwaves
Korean summers are humid, so it feels far hotter than the reading. People die every year.
Basic rules
- Drink water often — small amounts frequently, even before you feel thirsty.
- Avoid outdoor activity in the hottest part of the day.
- Wear light, loose clothing, a hat, and use a parasol.
- Rest in shade or air conditioning. Use designated cooling shelters.
- Alcohol and caffeine worsen dehydration.
Who is at risk
- People working outdoors — construction, agriculture, delivery
- Older people and children
- People with chronic conditions — heart, kidney, blood pressure, diabetes
- People living without air conditioning
Signs of heatstroke — call 119
- Confusion or incoherent speech
- No sweating, with hot dry skin
- Very high body temperature
- Convulsions, vomiting, severe headache
Call 119 immediately. Move them to shade, loosen clothing, and cool the neck, armpits and groin with wet cloths or ice. If unconscious, do not force them to drink.
If it happened at work
- Stop work and rest in the shade.
- It can be recognised as an industrial accident. Tell the doctor it happened at work and contact 1588-0075.
- Employers must provide rest, water and shade during heatwaves. If they don't, report to 1350.
- You have the right to refuse dangerous work. See refuse-dangerous-work.
Where to go
- 119 emergency (multilingual interpretation available)
- 1339 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
- 1588-0075 Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (safety reports)
- Your local community service centre (cooling shelter locations)
- 1577-1366 · 1345 interpretation
Questions people ask
Where are the cooling shelters? Community centres, senior centres and libraries are designated. Check with your community centre or the National Disaster Safety Portal.
I have no air conditioning. Use cooling shelters, libraries and subway stations during the day. Check the summer energy voucher too. See energy-voucher.
I can't sleep at night. Shower in lukewarm water, and open a window slightly when using a fan. A fan alone in a sealed room does not help.
My employer won't let us rest. You can report it to 1350. Providing rest during heatwaves is the employer's duty.
Take care
Never leave a person or animal in a parked car. It reaches fatal temperatures within minutes. Leaving a child in a car, even briefly, is never acceptable.
Related
cold-wave · energy-voucher · refuse-dangerous-work · first-aid-basics · call-119
Source
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency www.kdca.go.kr / As of 2026-08