SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - As the Gulf crisis drags on and energy costs bite deeper, a familiar Korean instinct is quietly resurfacing — collective action in everyday life.
Saemaul Undong Central Council on Monday kicked off a nationwide energy-saving campaign at Gwanghwamun Square, drawing participants who gathered not for protest, but for small, practical change.
The message was simple: switch off what you don’t need, unplug what you’re not using, and think twice before turning the key in your car.
Participants highlighted everyday habits — turning off unnecessary lights, cutting standby power, opting for public transport and keeping indoor temperatures in check — small steps that, multiplied across millions, could ease the strain of soaring oil prices.
The campaign, organizers said, is as much about mindset as it is about savings — an effort to revive a culture of shared responsibility at a time when households and local businesses are feeling the pinch.
Nearly 2 million members from Saemaul chapters nationwide are expected to take part, with no fixed end date. The campaign will continue, organizers said, for as long as the energy crunch lasts.
For now, the movement begins not with sweeping policy, but with a flick of a switch.
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