Statue of King Sejong goes dark for 10 minutes on Energy Day

South Korea marked its 23rd Energy Day on August 22nd with a nationwide blackout event, plunging major landmarks into darkness for ten minutes starting at 9 PM. The initiative, organized by the NGO 'Energy Citizens' Solidarity,' aimed to go beyond simple energy conservation. It sought to prompt a deeper consideration of energy choices and the kind of communities we are building in the face of the climate crisis.

Participating public institutions included the Seoul City Hall, National Assembly, and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City Hall. Iconic structures like the Gwangan Bridge in Busan and the Expo Bridge in Daejeon, along with 23 other locations, joined the simultaneous dimming of lights. This collective action highlighted a shared commitment to addressing energy consumption and climate change concerns.

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It's a place to think about what energy we should choose and what kind of region and community we should build in the era of climate crisis, not just simple energy saving.

However, the intended effect of the blackout was somewhat diminished in Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square. While the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin were indeed darkened, the surrounding area remained brightly lit by large digital advertisements. The light from these billboards was so intense that a sundial in front of the Sejong statue cast a clear shadow, as if the sun were still high in the sky. One citizen remarked on their unawareness of the blackout's purpose, illustrating a potential gap in public awareness or the overwhelming presence of commercial lighting.

The concept of Energy Day was established in 2004, following the record for the highest electricity consumption in South Korea on August 22, 2003. Its purpose is to encourage responses to peak summer electricity demand and promote energy saving and transition. This year's event, while visually striking in many locations, underscored the persistent challenge of balancing energy conservation efforts with the pervasive glow of urban commercialism.

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I knew it was Energy Day, but I didn't know the statue lights were turned off because of it.