About 2,000 post offices nationwide will operate as "cold wave shelters" to help protect public safety during winter.

The Ministry of Science and ICT’s Korea Post signed an agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Government Complex Seoul to allow the public to use post offices as cold wave shelters.

The agreement focuses on opening about 2,000 post offices nationwide as cold wave shelters so anyone can avoid the cold near where they live. Korea Post will provide the shelter space and manage the facilities. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will pursue related policies and support matters needed to operate the shelters.

The cold wave shelters will operate from Nov. 15 to March 15 next year. They will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., during post office working hours. The two organisations will install information signs so users can easily find the shelters and will continue cooperation to address inconvenience in using them.

Korea Post chief Park In-hwan (박인환) said it was meaningful that post offices can serve as warm shelters for local communities. He said he would do his best to manage the shelter spaces so the public can use them without inconvenience.