South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced a two-week intensive energy-saving campaign running from August 10 to August 23, 2025, to address surging power demand driven by persistent heatwaves and recovering industrial activity. According to the ministry, the initiative targets commercial districts nationwide to curb wasteful consumption while avoiding strict regulatory limits on cooling.
## Nationwide Commercial Campaigns Target Open-Door Cooling
To combat rising electricity consumption during peak summer demand, the ministry—working alongside the Korea Energy Agency—is deploying awareness campaigns across 26 major commercial districts, including Myeongdong and Hongdae in Seoul.
Outreach teams are instructing merchants to shut off unused appliances and lighting, install physical door closures on commercial refrigerators, and upgrade to high-efficiency equipment.
Public messaging extends beyond street campaigns. According to the ministry, an instructional public service video titled “Strategy for Conservation” is airing across social media platforms to demonstrate practical ways households and businesses can cut energy waste.
## The August 22 National Energy Day and Blackout Event
As part of the two-week push, the government has scheduled synchronized nationwide conservation events for August 22, recognized locally as Energy Day.
At 9:00 p.m. that evening, a 10-minute lights-out event will take place simultaneously across major public landmarks, including Gwanghwamun Plaza, Seoul City Hall, and the National Assembly building. Alongside these capital landmarks, civic groups are organizing regional energy-saving rallies and public participation events in more than 10 locations nationwide to encourage broad citizen involvement.
Park Deok-yeol, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment’s Director General for Hydrogen and Thermal Industry Policy, emphasized that the current campaign prioritizes fostering a sustainable energy culture over heavy-handed restrictions.
“This intensive publicity period will focus on spreading a culture of rational energy consumption, taking into consideration the severe heatwave conditions,” Park stated according to ministry announcements. “We will intensively propagate nationwide messages regarding energy conservation linked with climate action practices to stabilize electricity supply and demand this summer.”
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