Amid killer heatwaves soaring past 40°C, sending heat-related illness patients flooding in, some local governments are implementing systems that pay out heatwave insurance claims.
A representative example is the "Gyeonggi Climate Insurance," which Gyeonggi Province residents are automatically enrolled in.
It is structured so that approximately 14.4 million people—including Gyeonggi Province residents, registered foreigners within the province, and foreign nationals of Korean descent—are automatically enrolled without any separate procedures.
This year's insurance period runs from April 11 to April 10 of next year, and insurance claims can be filed within three years from the date of the accident or diagnosis.
Coverage for heat-related illnesses is also included.
If diagnosed with a heat-related illness such as heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat syncope, a diagnosis benefit of 150,000 won is paid out.
Those who visit the emergency room due to heat-related illnesses, cold-related illnesses, or climate disaster accidents receive 100,000 won, and if diagnosed with an injury requiring four weeks or more of treatment due to weather warnings or natural disaster-related accidents, a consolation payment of 300,000 won is also provided.
When diagnosed with climate-related infectious diseases such as malaria and tsutsugamushi disease, individuals can receive 200,000 won.
Even if subscribers already have other insurance policies, overlapping coverage is possible, and Gyeonggi Province covers the entire insurance premium.
Actual payout cases are also continuing.
Students diagnosed with heat-related illnesses during outdoor experiential learning and citizens who suffered heat exhaustion during physical activities have received insurance payouts.
The introduction of climate insurance by local governments is showing a spreading trend.
Jeju Island has subscribed to a product that compensates for the daily wages of workers that decrease when construction work is halted due to severe heatwave warnings.
This is a method of paying out insurance benefits based on temperature without separate screening procedures.
While public climate insurance is being introduced as heatwaves become routine, it has been revealed that Gyeonggi Province's finances are virtually in a state of bankruptcy, leading to backlash among some netizens with comments such as "This is why there is no money" and "Are they even giving it to foreigners with our taxes?"
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Choi Kang-san | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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