PHOTOS: S. Koreans seek renewable energy option for homes
By Park Jong-hyeokPosted : August 22, 2024, 17:16Updated : August 23, 2024, 16:07
SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - To promote Energy Day and the constitutional appeal, activists held a demonstration and press conference outside the Korea Electric Power Corporation's Seoul headquarters on Aug. 22.
On Energy Day, 41 plaintiffs filed a constitutional appeal against laws that allow general and industrial electricity users to purchase renewable energy but exclude residential consumers.
South Korean people who use electricity for private purposes are not given options to choose from power generated from conventional power generation sources such as thermal power plants, and electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as solar power plants. However, those who use electricity for industrial purposes can make a decision.
"About 15% of South Korea's electricity consumption is residential," said Kim Geon-young, a Solutions for Our Climate lawyer. "Current laws prevent households from choosing clean energy in response to climate change, while businesses have this option," Kim said.
The appeal argues these restrictions unfairly limit citizens' rights to make environmentally conscious choices.
Members of the civic activist group Solutions for Our Climate and citizens perform a demonstration advocating for renewable energy choices in front of Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
Members of the civic activist group Solutions for Our Climate and citizens hold a press conference demanding that the state power company offer ordinary customers options that allow them to choose electricity generated from renewable sources outside Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
Members of the civic activist group Solutions for Our Climate and citizens hold signs about climate disaster and renewable energy in front of Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
Members of the civic activist group Solutions for Our Climate and citizens hold signs about renewable energy in front of Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
A boy attending the press conference holds a sign about the climate crisis outside Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
Members of Solutions for Our Climate hold signs about climate disaster in front of Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
A boy at the press conference holds a sign urging the right to use renewable energy in front of Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
Members of the civic activist group Solutions for Our Climate and citizens perform a demonstration advocating for renewable energy choice in front of Korea Electric Power Corp.'s Seoul headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Aug. 22, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok