The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage

  • 3

    China expresses 'strong dissatisfaction' over US shooting down balloon

  • 5

    US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon with a single missile

  • 7

    Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?

  • 9

    VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines

  • 11

    LG publishes Korea's first group-level net zero report

  • 13

    Search under way for 9 missing after fishing boat capsizes

  • 15

    Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang

  • 17

    Dangerously cold temperatures envelop Northeast

  • 19

    Hyundai Motor's technology helps team become WTCR double champion

  • 2

    2-year work experience prerequisite lifted for foreign shipyard welders

  • 4

    Families of Itaewon victims on collision course with Seoul City

  • 6

    President Yoon at odds with politician who helped him win election

  • 8

    'Hype Boy' by NewJeans reaches 200 mil. Spotify streams

  • 10

    9 fishermen, including 2 Vietnamese, missing in boat incident

  • 12

    Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies

  • 14

    More than 2,000 foreign workers to be hired at Korean shipyards this month

  • 16

    FSC approves security token transactions in Korea

  • 18

    Japan PM Kishida fires aide over same-sex couple outburst

  • 20

    Brazil scuttles warship in Atlantic despite pollution concerns

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, February 7, 2023 | 01:44
Business
Blackouts hit Korea nationwide
Posted : 2011-09-15 20:55
Updated : 2011-09-15 20:55
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Police officers guide vehicles with hand signals on a street in Nowon-gu, northern Seoul after traffic lights failed due to a sudden power outage Thursday. The unprecedented blackout, which hit nationwide, was caused by unseasonably high power demand amid unusually hot weather. / Yonhap

Unseasonal heat wave, plant maintenance blamed for unprecedented power cuts

By Kim Tae-gyu

Rolling power outages occurred in Seoul and other areas Thursday, cutting off electricity to at least 1.62 million households, stranding people n elevators, causing accidents after traffic lights failed, threatening patients at hospitals and disrupting operations at factories.

The blackouts ― unprecedented in scale in peacetime ― were caused by a failure of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to prepare for a surge in electricity use triggered by the ongoing late heat wave, and it carrying out maintenance at power plants.

KEPCO made the situation worse by turning off the electrical supply arbitrarily without warning residents of areas to be affected, adding to the confusion. KEPCO is being run by an acting CEO after Kim Ssang-soo quit before his term was up.

Officials at KEPCO and its supervisor, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), said that supply capacity had been moderated as a summer is coming to an end and demand was tapering off, not expecting a surge in use.

The rolling blackouts took place for 30 minutes in each region, according to the ministry. KEPCO said power services returned to normal as of 7:56 p.m.

``We expected that the peak demand for electricity would be around 64 million kilowatts but the actual figure jumped to 67.26 million kilowatts because of the heat wave, while the power reserve fell below 4 million kilowatts,’’ MKE director Kim Do-gyun said.

``We employed a variety of measures to keep the reserve above 4 million kilowatts, but to little avail. In order to prevent a possible blackout of the entire nation, we had no choice but to follow guidelines limiting power to specific regions in rotation, for the first time.’’

Kim contended that only households, small-sized apartments and commercial facilities without elevators were affected by the step, which KEPCO is allowed to take without prior notice.

Yet, numerous reports were filed throughout Thursday afternoon and evening that people were stuck in elevators and large-sized office buildings including retail chains and department stores and even industrial complexes suffered power failures.

A host of traffic signs failed prompting the police to issue an alert and cell phones did not work in some regions.

``As electricity usage goes down in September, 23 power stations including a couple of nuclear reactors are currently undergoing maintenance,’’ MKE Deputy Minister Jeong Jae-hoon said.

``We failed to make a correct prediction on power demand as well as to announce the power limit in advance. We feel responsibility for that along with KEPCO.’’

Beginning Friday, the MKE plans to operate some of the 23 power stations in question whose combined capacity amounts to 8.34 million kilowatts. However, it remains to be seen whether the country will be able to meet the increasing power demand amid the ongoing heat wave.

Maximum temperatures have topped 30 degrees Celsius of late, several degrees higher than average. The trend is projected to continue for the time being according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Almost all areas including Seoul and its vicinity faced power outages but major companies Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and POSCO did not experience any production disruption since they are equipped with their own emergency power generators.

In the aftermath of the power cut, KEPCO came under fire for not making enough investments. The company has experienced snowballing deficits over the past few years, amounting to trillions of won.

Its leadership vacancy is also on the lips of the watchers ― former President Kim Ssang-su resigned late August and incoming CEO Kim Joong-kyum is poised to take charge of the utility next week if he wins the approval of shareholders today.
Emailvoc200@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1[VIDEO] Filipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines
2US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book
3[ANALYSIS] New order prevails in global battery industry ANALYSISNew order prevails in global battery industry
4[INTERVIEW] Saudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOMINTERVIEWSaudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM
5[Video] How Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories VideoHow Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories
6Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones
7Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders
8Renowned American economist to discuss China issues at Seoul webinar Renowned American economist to discuss China issues at Seoul webinar
9Opposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concernsOpposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concerns
10Argentina hopes to strengthen nuclear cooperation with KoreaArgentina hopes to strengthen nuclear cooperation with Korea
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Tati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage
2TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart
3Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
4Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies
5The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group