By Kang Hyun-kyung
Civil servants may be the biggest victim of the government-led energy saving campaign as they are being "tortured" in sweaty, hot offices.
With concerns growing over power shortage problems amid record temperatures, public servants have been ordered to switch off air conditioners and lights.
They are taking the brunt of the shutdown of two nuclear reactors amid concerns that the nation might suffer massive power cuts.
With temperatures rising over 30 degrees Celsius inside their offices, civil servants take shelter at nearby cafes to have a break from the cruel heat in the afternoon when daily temperatures reach their highest.
Working conditions literally turned "inhumane," they fumed.
On Wednesday, temperatures of some government offices in central Seoul went up as high as 38 degrees Celsius, making it almost impossible to stay in.
Visitors have also found it difficult to weather the heat.
On Tuesday, a French delegation led by Angouleme Mayor Philippe Lavaud visited the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for a meeting with Minister Cho Yoon-sun.
The two sides sat down at 5 p.m. for an hour-long meeting to exchange ideas on the Angouleme International Comics Festival's special session to feature Japan's wartime sex slavery. The meeting was open to the press.
In the conference room located on the 13th floor of the building, air conditioners were turned off. The two electric fans on the floor were insufficient to blow off the heat.
During the meeting, French officials had to wipe sweat off their faces as all four officials wore long-sleeved suits and two of them wore neckties.
The situation for the headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government is no different. Since last week, it has turned off all air conditioners after 2 p.m.
On Wednesday, lights were turned off on the second floor of the building. All doors leading to the spokesman's office and other divisions were flung open.
Few civil servants openly complain about the power-saving campaign. But they know that they are saving energy at the sacrifice of productivity.
Civil servants may be the biggest victim of the government-led energy saving campaign as they are being "tortured" in sweaty, hot offices.
With concerns growing over power shortage problems amid record temperatures, public servants have been ordered to switch off air conditioners and lights.
They are taking the brunt of the shutdown of two nuclear reactors amid concerns that the nation might suffer massive power cuts.
With temperatures rising over 30 degrees Celsius inside their offices, civil servants take shelter at nearby cafes to have a break from the cruel heat in the afternoon when daily temperatures reach their highest.
Working conditions literally turned "inhumane," they fumed.
On Wednesday, temperatures of some government offices in central Seoul went up as high as 38 degrees Celsius, making it almost impossible to stay in.
Visitors have also found it difficult to weather the heat.
On Tuesday, a French delegation led by Angouleme Mayor Philippe Lavaud visited the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for a meeting with Minister Cho Yoon-sun.
The two sides sat down at 5 p.m. for an hour-long meeting to exchange ideas on the Angouleme International Comics Festival's special session to feature Japan's wartime sex slavery. The meeting was open to the press.
In the conference room located on the 13th floor of the building, air conditioners were turned off. The two electric fans on the floor were insufficient to blow off the heat.
During the meeting, French officials had to wipe sweat off their faces as all four officials wore long-sleeved suits and two of them wore neckties.
The situation for the headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government is no different. Since last week, it has turned off all air conditioners after 2 p.m.
On Wednesday, lights were turned off on the second floor of the building. All doors leading to the spokesman's office and other divisions were flung open.
Few civil servants openly complain about the power-saving campaign. But they know that they are saving energy at the sacrifice of productivity.
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