Korea’s summer heat wave continues. During the day, the highest temperatures exceed 36°C, prompting multiple industrial companies to roll out AI systems, IoT sensors, extended break times, and additional cooling equipment in the summer of 2026. Since this summer, POSCO’s Gwangyang Plant has adopted an AI system to manage applications for heat-relief and cooling supplies. Hanwha Ocean has become the first shipbuilding company to add two additional breaks every day—10 minutes each in the morning and afternoon—regardless of the apparent temperature, during the period from late July to late August.
POSCO Gwangyang Plant’s AI Heat-Relief Supplies System
According to disclosures by industry insiders on July 17, 2026, POSCO’s Gwangyang Plant has used an AI system to handle heat-relief and cooling supplies since this summer. Previously, each department had to email the responsible person in a fixed format, making it difficult to change quantities or delivery locations, and also hard to track application progress. The current AI system operates as follows:
· Employees select the required supplies by category (ice water, ice boxes, rest tents, etc.) and fill in the quantity, date, and delivery location
· For bottled water, they can choose purified water or ice water
· After receiving the application, completing approval, and completing final delivery, the system automatically sends notifications to the relevant personnel in three stages
POSCO also requires: when the apparent temperature exceeds 31°C in each plant area, workers must take a 10-minute break after 50 minutes of continuous work; when the apparent temperature reaches 35°C or above, outdoor work must be stopped or adjusted. Hyundai Steel sends buses equipped with refrigerators, blood pressure monitors, and automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to job sites each day to check workers’ body temperatures and blood pressure.
Shipyard Adds Unconditional Break Time: Hanwha Ocean Labor-Management Agreement
Hanwha Ocean formed a joint task force between labor and management in February 2026. After the agreement was reached, it became the first company in the shipbuilding industry to add 10 minutes of breaks in the morning and afternoon each day during the period from late July to late August, regardless of the apparent temperature. The move responds to the shipyard’s special working conditions: workers must endure the radiant heat from the sun on the exterior of ship hulls, as well as high temperatures from welding work inside poorly ventilated ship compartments.
In Geoje Shipyard, ice-making machines and water purifiers are installed about every 150 meters, delivering more than 300 bottles of ice water daily to the wharf work area; new cooling mist sprayers are installed outdoors; and 18-language heat-relief and cooling guides are produced to meet the growing demand as the proportion of foreign workers increases.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard has launched a “mobile juice cart.” Starting immediately until early September 2026, at 3 p.m. every day, company executives and department heads will distribute a total of 44,000 bowls of juice to on-site workers. There are more than 270 rest areas at the construction site and near vessels under construction; the lunch break is extended by 30 minutes and continues through the end of August 2026.
Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance Guidance and IoT On-Site Real-Time Monitoring
Lotte Construction began using IoT devices at 80 construction sites across the country starting in July 2026. The system measures temperature and humidity every 5 minutes. Once it detects a risk level, it automatically sends alerts to headquarters and the construction site. Workers scan a QR code to view the apparent temperature at their location and the corresponding response guidelines. Samsung C&T also uses IoT real-time monitoring of apparent temperatures at construction sites, setting 14:00 to 17:00 as the time period to reduce high-risk work.
On July 13, 2026, Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF) released guidance requiring procurement agencies to order the suspension of public works when extreme weather such as high heat or heavy rain significantly increases construction difficulty. The suspension period is treated as force majeure, so the construction period will be extended and contract amounts adjusted to compensate for additional expenses. Even if the work resumes but construction delays occur due to high temperatures, no liability for breach compensation will be imposed.
FAQ
How does POSCO’s Gwangyang Plant AI heat-relief system work?
According to disclosures by industry insiders on July 17, 2026, employees can use the AI system to select supplies such as ice water, ice boxes, rest tents, and more by category. After filling in the quantity, date, and delivery location and submitting the request, the system automatically notifies relevant personnel across three stages: application, approval, and delivery.
How does Hanwha Ocean adjust the shipyard’s break system?
Based on the labor-management agreement reached in February 2026, during the period from late July to late August, Hanwha Ocean adds 10 minutes of breaks in the morning and afternoon each day regardless of apparent temperature, making it the first company in the shipbuilding industry to adopt this unconditional extended-break policy.
What is South Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance position on policies for work stoppages due to high temperatures?
Based on the guidance issued by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on July 13, 2026, any work stoppage period caused by high temperatures on public projects is treated as force majeure; the construction period is extended accordingly and contract amounts are adjusted. Even if the work resumes but construction delays occur due to high temperatures, no liability for breach compensation by the contractor will be pursued.
