February 17, 2009, Korea - "Daylight Saving Time, Cycle Paths to Spur 'Green Growth'
", The Chosun Ilbo.
|
Daylight Saving Time .
The government hopes to start the system in May next year, saying it will reduce annual electricity usage by 0.3 percent, and increase consumption by W862.8 billion and production by W1.29 trillion.
All member countries of the OECD except Korea, Japan and Iceland have adopted the system. Critics say the huge cost will compromise the benefits, as it will require adjustment of flight schedules and daily rhythms.
Labor unions are opposed as they claim it could result in increased working hours in a nation where staying at work until dark is considered proof of commitment.
|
February 16, 2009, Korea - "Korea Will Introduce Daylight Saving Time Soon",
By Na Jeong-ju, Staff Reporter- the Korea Times
|
See
Asia Time Zone Map with current time
|
Korea Will Introduce Daylight Saving Time Soon.
The government will form a task force to introduce daylight saving time (DST) as early as possible to save energy and improve the quality of life, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.
It is also considering creating a fund to attract investment from the private sector in the development of energy-saving technologies under the ``Green New Deal'' project aimed at nurturing relative industries into a new economic growth engine.
These measures were discussed at the first meeting of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, presided over by President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae. The 47-member council of economic ministers and experts from the private sector, which opened Monday, will play a leading role in forming the government's green growth policies.
``South Korea has become one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of efforts to develop green technologies and fight climate change,'' President Lee said. ``I'm confident that green technologies will not only help us overcome the ongoing economic crisis, but enhance the country's long-term growth potential.''
As part of plans to promote green industries, the government will soon introduce DST, which has been adopted by 27 of the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Only South Korea, Japan and Iceland have yet to put DST in motion.
The measure is expected to draw a fierce backlash from unions, which have argued employers might abuse it to force employees to work longer. Union activists claim that it is still premature to launch DST because South Koreans work the longest hours in the world even though the country enforces a 40-hour workweek.
Cheong Wa Dae said the government will submit a bill on green growth this month. It will also create a bureau at each municipal government to coordinate policies with the central government and implement them.
Last month, the administration announced a 50-trillion-won program dubbed the ``Green New Deal'' to create over 900,000 jobs. The plan includes a multi-trillion-won project to clean and refurbish the country's four major rivers.
Under the plan, Korea will spend over 1.2 trillion won ($852 million) over the next 10 years to build a nationwide network of bicycle paths along four major rivers. The government plans to host an international bicycle race, ``Tour de Korea,'' when the project is complete in 2012.
It will also initiate other green projects entailing increasing the use of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, and replacing all incandescent light bulbs at public facilities with more energy-efficient LED bulbs by 2012.
``The country will boost its energy independence and green technology levels to those of the world's top 10 advanced nations by 2030 to help establish a Green Korea image,'' Cheong Wa Dae said.
|
February 16, 2009, Korea - "Green growth panel focuses on investment",
By Hwang Jang-jin, The Korea Herald
|
Green growth panel focuses on investment
The government will promote financial instruments and funds to draw more investment in green industries, as part of its efforts to boost growth and create jobs through environment-friendly businesses, officials said yesterday.
It also plans to introduce a daylight saving time scheme and encourage the use of light-emitting diode lamps to reduce electricity consumption.
........................
It also seeks to introduce "summer time," which it expects to help reduce the usage of 0.3 percent of electricity. Korea is one of three countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development which have yet to adopt it. A new government team will be formed to study the matter, the committee said.
To promote investment in ecologically-friendly corporations, the government also will set up "green industry investment companies" and "green industry funds."
Back to DST News
|
|
|
