Analysis and improvement of regional heatwave policy through in-depth interviews with public officials

Due to increases in global temperatures, South Korea is experiencing annual increases in average temperature and heatwave days. The impact of heatwaves is intensified by the urban heat island effect in densely populated urban areas with limited green spaces. Analyzing urban heatwave vulnerability and establishing a safety net for vulnerable populations are crucial. Heatwave countermeasures are being developed to address extreme heat challenges in South Korea at both the local and national levels. However, the introduction of similar heatwave action plans is a recurring annual issue. Currently, local heatwave countermeasures are often framed as sub-strategies of national initiatives, which can lead to operational difficulties if regional realities and stakeholder opinions are not considered. In this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with public officials to identify shortcomings in heatwave policies and used our findings to propose effective improvement measures. The in-depth interviews revealed a shortage of specialized personnel responsible for heatwave policies at the local government level, and that program implementation faces operational difficulties due to the failure to consider regional characteristics. As a solution, it is necessary to explore ways to support local government officials by considering the limitations of personnel and budget at the local level. In addition, national heatwave policies should be applied in a differentiated manner, considering regional conditions.