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Busan Metropolitan City Steps Up Heat Damage Prevention at Urban Greening Sites, Mobilizing Full Response to Prolonged Heatwaves and Ongoing Lack of Rainfall

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it is implementing the Summer Street Tree and Green Space Management Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") to prevent tree mortality caused by prolonged heatwaves and anticipated rainfall shortages following the dry monsoon season.

The Plan, established in May, applies to trees located at urban greening sites, including street trees and flower beds. Green space management is implemented under three response stages according to heatwave conditions: Caution, Alert, and Severe.

The Initial Response (Caution) stage is activated when a Heatwave Advisory is issued with a daily maximum perceived temperature of 33°C or higher. Emergency Level 1 (Alert) is activated under a Heatwave Warning when the daily maximum perceived temperature reaches 35°C or higher, while Emergency Level 2 (Severe) is implemented under an Extreme Heat Warning when the daily maximum perceived temperature reaches 38°C or higher.

Following the issuance of a Heatwave Advisory on July 13, the city initiated the Initial Response (Caution) stage by inspecting vulnerable trees and carrying out watering operations. Over the following two weeks (July 13–24), approximately 430,000 trees at major urban greening sites—including arterial roads, intersections, traffic islands, and trees newly planted within the past three years—received watering.

After an Extreme Heat Warning was issued on July 29, the city escalated its response to Emergency Level 2 (Severe) and began emergency management measures.

The scope of watering operations was expanded to include all trees at urban greening sites, and watering frequency was increased. By the end of July, watering had been completed for approximately 680,000 trees, including priority management trees, on a cumulative basis from July 13 through July 31.

The city has expanded the rental of water trucks and plans to further strengthen on-site response capabilities by deploying additional personnel in anticipation of continued prolonged heatwaves.

In early August, KRW 280 million was reallocated to district and county offices responsible for managing urban greening sites, as well as the Greenery Project Team of the Urban Greening Project Office, for the rental of water trucks and the purchase of maintenance supplies.

Busan Metropolitan City is also maintaining a close cooperative system with district and county offices and the Urban Greening Project Office to continuously monitor heatwave conditions and tree health. Through enhanced field inspections, trees showing signs of stress will immediately receive watering and emergency treatment to minimize damage to urban green spaces.

The city will also prioritize the management of approximately 430,000 trees planted within the past three years, as well as trees with poor growth conditions. Newly planted areas where establishment has not yet been completed and locations with vulnerable growing conditions will receive priority attention.

Kim Chang-duk, Director General of the Green City Bureau, said, “This year, the combination of a dry monsoon season and record-breaking heatwaves has made the management of our urban greening sites more important than ever. We will make full use of all available equipment and personnel to thoroughly manage trees and other vegetation at urban greening sites while providing residents with a healthy and pleasant green environment.”