Seoul’s convenience stores to serve as shelters from extreme cold and heat

A signboard certifying \'Climate Companion Shelter\' is posted on the entrance door of GS25 Deogwanak, a convenience store designated as a place where anyone can take a break from cold waves and heat waves. Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government

Convenience stores, which have become an integral part of the city's commercial landscape, will now serve as shelters from extreme cold and heat.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on February 25 that 41 convenience stores in the city will be designated as "climate companion shelters" where anyone can stay to escape extreme weather such as cold waves and heat waves.

The warm-share movement to share heating energy is spreading in cities around the world that have experienced energy shortages in recent years. In the U.K., public facilities such as libraries and community centers, and in Japan, large commercial facilities such as shopping malls have been made available as warm rest areas for anyone looking to escape the cold. This also reduces carbon emissions by saving energy for heating and cooling.

In Seoul, there are more than 5,300 shelters where people can evacuate during cold waves and heat waves. They are designed for people who do not have heating or air conditioning in their homes, but most of them are located in senior centers and community centers, so there are limitations such as limited hours and poor accessibility.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government proposed to the retail industry that convenience stores, which have the most stores in the city center and keep the lights on all day, provide shelters.

Convenience store companies including BGF Retail and GS Retail, which agreed with the project, surveyed franchisees in January and confirmed the willingness of 41 stores in 18 districts of Seoul to participate. 23 CU stores and 18 GS25 stores pledged to provide venues. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the convenience stores signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on February 23 to provide shelters.

An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "Convenience stores are suitable for cold and heat shelters because they are close to everyday life, operate without holidays, and have a comfortable interior environment." "We selected stores that are open 24 hours a day and have a resting space such as a table with the consent of the store owners so that we can share cooling and heating energy with citizens without time constraints," he said.

Convenience stores designated as climate companion shelters provide an open rest area for anyone in the community to visit at any time to escape the cold and heat during seasonal disaster-like weather. The stores will be labeled with a certification plaque.

Seoul will run the pilot until the 15th of next month, when the period of cold wave countermeasures ends, and then analyze the results to secure additional participating stores before the summer heat wave begins in earnest.

"The 'Climate Companion Shelter,' which shares cooling and heating energy among convenience stores in the living area, is a model of public-private cooperation for the safety and welfare of Seoul," said Kim Ki-hyun, Seoul's chief safety officer.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.