Korea still hopes that Japan will join its push to introduce daylight saving time (DST) this summer in a move aimed at saving energy, an official at the presidential office said Wednesday, according to Yonhap News.As far as I'm aware, Seoul and Tokyo made an agreement some time ago that they would go on DST only if the other did. Since, population-wise, it is mainly only Korea (North and South) and Japan that are in this time zone, and since the two have a high level of traffic going back and forth, as well as day-to-day business dealings, it would make things sorta messy if South Korea were to end up an hour ahead of Japan for half the year. The time difference between North Korea and the South or Japan, on the other hand, not that big a deal right now.
"It is true that Japan's stance is one of various factors in deciding whether Korea will adopt the system," the official at Cheong Wa Dae said on the condition of anonymity.
Korea, which is actively staging a green growth campaign, is contemplating whether to set the country's clocks forward an hour in summer, probably from April till September, according to the official.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Korea to enact "summertime" if Japan does
That would be "daylight saving time" to those of us in los Estados Unidos. From the Korea Herald:
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"saving energy"?
ReplyDeleteHaven't all the studies proven that it's nothing more than a placebo and really saves no money/energy?
I've heard that argument, though I don't know if "all the studies" is a correct description. I know there was at least one that called it into question.
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on where you're at. If because of DST you have people waking up driving in the dark, then there isn't really a net savings, probably. But I don't think Korea and Japan are like that in the summer.
But, savings or not, I think DST provides more opportunities for outdoor activities and thus has benefits in that way.
At any rate, I'm just reporting on this, not supporting it (necessarily).
ReplyDeleteMy main thing is that (a) it's interesting that Japan and Korea have had this mutual acknowledgement policy, which can bode well for other things; and (b) I don't think it's a good idea for South Korea to do this without Japan also doing it (and vice versa).