Summer Water Safety Management Period Extended by 2 Weeks to September 13 — Intensive Checks on Drought and Heatwave
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
On August 13, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (행정안전부) said it is extending the summer water safety management period by 2 weeks to September 13.
Key facts
| Date announced | August 13, 2026 (Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 'drought, heatwave and water safety review meeting') |
|---|---|
| Water safety management period | Extended by 2 weeks to September 13 |
| Reason for the extension | To prepare for water activities such as swimming continuing even after the holiday season, in line with a weather outlook that temperatures higher than in an average year will last through September |
| Reservoir storage rates | Gyeongnam 33.0% (46.5% of the average year's 71.0%), Jeonnam and Gwangju 43.4%, Jeonbuk 36.5%, Gyeongbuk 47.5% |
| Emergency water supply | 200 National Fire Agency water tanker trucks and 62 Korea Forest Service wildfire-fighting vehicles deployed, and 270,000 bottles of bottled water provided, centered on island areas and small-scale water supply facilities |
| Drought response means | All available means mobilized, including running additional water trucks, expanding the use of mobile water pumps and reusing drainage water |
| Heat-related illness | A cumulative 3,382 people have suffered heat-related illness this summer (down 0.4% from the same period last year), of whom about 45.4% were aged 60 or over |
| Inquiries | Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Climate Disaster Management Division 044-205-6364; Disaster and Safety Inspection Division 044-205-4241 |
Last checked:
On August 13, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (행정안전부) held a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 'drought, heatwave and water safety review meeting' and extended the summer water safety management period by 2 weeks to September 13. The step prepares for water activities such as swimming continuing even after the holiday season, in line with a weather outlook that temperatures higher than in an average year will last through September. In drought-hit areas, all available means are to be mobilized, including running additional water trucks, expanding the use of mobile water pumps and reusing drainage water, and safety management for groups vulnerable to the heat is to be intensively reviewed.
Background — why this change
The meeting was chaired by Kim Kwang-yong, Head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, and reviewed reservoir storage rates by region and drought measures, as well as how the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which are operating heatwave accident response support headquarters and the like, are coping. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local governments to inspect sites in person and look into crop damage and the difficulties farmers face.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How long does the summer water safety management period run?
It has been extended by 2 weeks to September 13, 2026.
Why was the period extended?
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said it extended the period in line with a weather outlook that temperatures higher than in an average year will last through September, to prepare for water activities such as swimming continuing even after the holiday season.
How is support provided to groups vulnerable to the heat?
The meeting discussed providing cooling supplies to vulnerable groups during fire service patrol activities through cooperation between local governments and frontline fire stations, and publicizing heatwave action guidelines together with information on using cooling shelters.