서울 무더위쉼터, 밤 9시 이후 ‘0.4%’만 문 열어…취약계층 접근도 어려워

Seoul's heat shelters, which remain closed after 9pm, are creating accessibility issues for vulnerable populations, according to a recent analysis. The study found that only 2.4% of the 4,039 air-conditioned shelters are open overnight, regardless of whether a heat warning is in effect. This leaves many elderly residents, particularly those living in neighborhoods with high concentrations of elderly basic living allowance recipients, struggling to find shelter at night.

Issues arise when residents, who cannot access the shelters due to lack of membership, are forced to turn away at the shelter entrances. Elderly residents in areas with limited shelter capacity, such as Dongbu-dong, Changgyeong-dong, Ui-dong, Incho-dong, and Jung-gyo4-dong, are especially at risk. While the government and Seoul City have announced plans to extend overnight operations during heat warnings and other special measures, these measures are limited to individual districts, making it difficult to provide adequate nighttime refuge for all residents.

Many shelters are simply designated as such by converting existing facilities like community centers and welfare offices to operate overnight, which limits their availability. Moreover, the majority of Seoul's shelters, 69.9%, operate as member-based facilities without staff, making it difficult to implement overnight operations.

The lack of specific time information in Seoul's public data further complicates matters, as residents must rely on vague descriptions of shelter operation hours. Despite the government's efforts to address the issue, a significant portion of Seoul's shelters, particularly those with 2,594 out of 4,039 (64.2%) shut at night, remain inaccessible during heat waves.