Seoul City Partners with KEPCO to Provide Cooling Support for Climate-Vulnerable Groups Ahead of Heatwaves

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By Global Team

The Seoul Metropolitan Government, in collaboration with the Seoul and South Seoul headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation and the Seoul City Welfare Council, has embarked on a cooling support project in a public-private partnership to ensure a safe summer for climate-vulnerable groups ahead of the anticipated heatwave.

This cooperation involves providing cooling products and energy efficiency improvement costs for energy-vulnerable households, amounting to a total donation of 60 million KRW.

On June 30 at 2 PM, Seoul City held a donation ceremony at Seoul City Hall with the participation of officials from Korea Electric Power Corporation’s Seoul and South Seoul Headquarters, Seoul City Welfare Council, and the Seoul Climate and Environment Headquarters, initiating a sharing practice to respond to heatwaves.

Donation ceremony for energy-vulnerable households and social welfare facilities (from left to right: Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Climate and Environment Headquarters, Jang Young-shin, secretary-general of the Seoul City Welfare Council, Lee Jae-ho, director of the Seoul Headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation, Lee Jae-heon, director of the South Seoul Headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation) provided by Seoul City
Donation ceremony for energy-vulnerable households and social welfare facilities (from left to right: Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Climate and Environment Headquarters, Jang Young-shin, secretary-general of the Seoul City Welfare Council, Lee Jae-ho, director of the Seoul Headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation, Lee Jae-heon, director of the South Seoul Headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation) provided by Seoul City

The 60 million KRW donated by the Seoul and South Seoul headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation will be utilized through ‘Seoul Energy Plus,’ Seoul City’s energy welfare donation platform, for energy efficiency improvements (such as insulation and window construction) and the provision of high-efficiency rice cookers, fans, and other cooling products. The beneficiaries will be determined through demand surveys among energy-vulnerable households and social welfare facilities.

Since 2015, Seoul Energy Plus, based on donations from businesses and citizens, has supported approximately 540,000 energy-vulnerable households, and the Seoul and South Seoul headquarters of Korea Electric Power Corporation have contributed about 80 million KRW over the past two years to improve energy efficiency and install high-efficiency lighting in 221 households.

This year, as part of the heatwave prevention plan, Seoul City has secured donations and goods valued at approximately 840 million KRW to support about 20,000 households with cooling products and energy costs. The focus is on providing practical goods that help combat heatwaves, such as fans and summer blankets.

Seoul Energy Plus encourages voluntary citizen participation through platforms like Kakao Together, text message support, and customized campaigns, thereby expanding the sustainability and social consensus for supporting energy-vulnerable households.

Kwon Min, the head of the Climate and Environment Headquarters, expressed gratitude, stating, “In the face of the climate crisis towards achieving carbon neutrality and realizing energy welfare, we deeply appreciate the meaningful donation from Korea Electric Power Corporation,” adding, “Seoul City will continue to strive to resolve energy welfare blind spots through public-private cooperation and create a city safe from heatwaves.”

Seoul City plans to continue strengthening collaboration with private companies to expand the social safety net, protecting climate-vulnerable groups from summer energy crises.

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