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The measures, which will remain in place until Sept. 30, follow a forecast from the Korea Meteorological Administration that average temperatures this summer will be well above normal, the Korea Times reported.

A heat- death on May 15 was the earliest recorded since South Korea began tracking heat illnesses in emergency rooms in 2011.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is installing cooling facilities across public spaces to reduce heat exposure in densely populated urban areas.

It plans to set up 14 outdoor cooling shelters equipped with air-dome systems at some of the city’s busiest landmarks, including Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Plaza. Shade canopies will also be installed along 35 pedestrian routes vulnerable to extreme heat.

Seoul is also expanding its network of fine-mist cooling fog systems to cover 235 locations, while underground cooling road systems will spray water onto pavements along a 5.67-kilometer stretch near major transport hubs.

A shade canopy on the side of the street in Seoul City, South Korea. Photo from Instagram/@modacitylife

During heatwave warnings, 199 street-cleaning trucks will spray water across more than 2,000 kilometers of roads up to eight times a day to lower surface temperatures and ease the urban heat island effect, where cities become significantly hotter than surrounding areas because concrete and asphalt trap heat.

The city will also apply heat-reflective “cool roof” coatings to 204 buildings, focusing on older residential areas and welfare facilities used by elderly and disabled residents.

It plans to support the measures with 4,078 public cooling centers citywide. Inspection teams in all 25 districts will monitor the facilities daily to ensure they remain open during periods of extreme heat.