Seoul N Tower before and after last year's lights-out event [Yonhap]
Seoul N Tower before and after last year's lights-out event [Yonhap]

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy announced Friday that a nationwide simultaneous 10-minute lights-out event, organized by the Energy Citizen Solidarity, will take place Saturday at 9 p.m. at 23 landmarks and communities across the country to mark the 23rd Energy Day.

The Energy Citizen Solidarity is a civic coalition of more than 220 environmental, consumer and women's organizations in South Korea. The ministry and the coalition plan to use the event to encourage the public to go beyond energy conservation and join broader climate action.

Energy Day was established by the Energy Citizen Solidarity after power consumption hit a then-record high of 47.4 gigawatts on Aug. 22, 2003, to raise awareness about energy saving. Each year on Aug. 22, the day features two signature campaigns: raising air conditioner temperature settings by 2 degrees Celsius between 2 and 3 p.m., and a lights-out event at 9 p.m.

This year, the simultaneous lights-out will again take place at 9 p.m. at 23 landmarks nationwide, including the National Assembly building, Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall in Seoul, Lotte World Tower, and Busan Tower in Busan.

The event will also extend beyond major landmarks, with local civic groups in Seoul, Gwangju, Busan, Daegu, Cheonan, Ansan, Gumi, Masan and Yeosu leading climate action and energy-saving campaigns in their communities.

The Energy Citizen Solidarity expects more than 1.68 million people to participate.

Regional events and campaigns tied to the "10 Pledges of Climate Citizens" will also be held, promoting commitments such as "We protect our one and only Earth by reducing carbon" and "We think from a global perspective and build sustainable local communities."

Oh Il-young, director general for climate and energy policy at the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy, called the nationwide lights-out "a symbolic activity that reminds every participant that they are agents of climate crisis response." He added that he hopes the event "will serve as an opportunity for a culture of everyday climate action to take deeper root."


thlee@heraldcorp.com