Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rabidcake]

This is my first time here in the Korean winter and I'm very shocked at how little energy is used for heating in public places.

The most striking example is the subway. Most stations are extremely cold, with very limited heating. Even inside subway cars the only source of heat that I have found is the heat from the subway chairs, making the fight for the subway chairs all more meaningful if you have been freezing outside of the subway station.

There are other examples too, but they are more private businesses such as restaurants and jimjillbangs. These businesses force their staff to work in extremely cold indoor temperatures to save money on energy, and they always have a few layers of clothing to protect themselves from the cold.

I am assuming this is all normal and also seen with public schools as well? (Hagwons?) In general I find the practice of conserving energy very good, and during the summer months I'm sure they are also very careful not to overuse the air-con. I know there's a lot of energy wasted here, but out of many countries I've been to I'd have to say Korea is extremely energy conscious.

[wishfullthinkng]

and you've experienced a heated subway stations where exactly? because i never have and i've been to many different subways around the world. in fact, i'd go as far as to say all the commerce that happens in many stations along with the sheer number of people heat up many of the stations to a reasonable temperature. ever had to wait for a train at 4am in a new york winter? i know i'd much rather be waiting in gangnam station.

and as for the train cabs, where else do you expect the heaters to be? unlike air con, it makes sense for the heaters to be under the seats. that's where they are in almost all subways trains (hint: almost all subway trains are either french or japanese in design and build, not korean)

and korea, energy conscious? i guess you haven't seen all the garish neon signs everywhere.

don't worry, if it's one thing korea is pretty awful at, it is temperature regulation and consistency. it's always a random chance that any building here will be comfortable coming in from a hot or cold climate. and most of the time it has nothing to do with energy conservation.

[3DR]

If they were so energy conscious, they would learn how to properly insulate buildings so heat doesn't continually escape.

[highstreet]

Heated subway stations is a world that I want to live in.

The problem is building insulation is terrible.

[Savant]

[fermentation]

[cdninkorea]

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was sarcastic. Korea has gotten better in the last year (two at most), but there are still a lot of shops that leave their doors wide open to the street while blasting the air conditioning/heat, and I still hear stories of public schools leaving the windows open in the winter while blasting the heat to "let the bad air out" And if you really want to talk about conserving resources, I think those umbrella condoms they use all over the country when entering a building are a huge waste.

[rabidcake]