"Open Door Heating Business STOP"... Crackdown Team Deployed Ahead of Seollal

Ministry of Industry, Energy Corporation, and Mapo District Office Jointly Crack Down on Commercial Areas Near Hongdae
Energy Usage Restrictions...Fines Up to 3 Million KRW for Violations

Officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Energy Agency, and Mapo District Office are cracking down on businesses operating with their doors open for heating on the afternoon of the 20th at stores near Hongik University in Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] "Please be aware that if you operate heating business with the entrance door open in cold weather, you may be fined up to 3 million KRW."

On the 20th, near Exit 9 of Hongdae Entrance Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea Energy Agency, and Mapo District Office jointly conducted inspections on businesses operating heating with doors open. The first day of the inspection was Daehan (大寒), the coldest day of the year. The inspection team wore sashes that read "Operate heating with doors closed" and "Maintain heating temperature at 20℃" and thoroughly checked cosmetics stores, grocery shops, and clothing stores with open doors. After verifying whether heaters were operating inside the stores, they delivered cautionary notices to the shop owners. Choi Jae-dong, Director of Building Energy Division at the Energy Agency, said, "Operating heating with doors open is prohibited by law," and added, "Today is just a warning, but from the 22nd and 23rd, actual fines will be imposed, so please take note for your business."

Since 2012, the Energy Agency has been educating and inspecting heating and cooling operations in 18 major commercial districts nationwide every summer and winter. According to the Energy Use Rationalization Act, when "energy use restriction measures" are implemented, not only educational activities but also inspections like this are conducted. This is the first time in five years since 2014 that energy use restriction measures have been implemented in winter. These measures are issued when there is or is expected to be a disruption in energy supply, and this year they are in effect from the 20th to the 23rd of this month, when a power peak is anticipated. Plans to reduce coal power generation to lower fine dust levels also influenced this decision.

Last month, after inspecting 2,902 workplaces nationwide in two phases, the Energy Agency found that 5.4% of workplaces violated regulations. The violations caught during inspections include: ▲ operating heaters while keeping the entrance door open for more than 5 minutes, ▲ operating heaters while removing the entrance door or turning off automatic door switches, ▲ operating heating with doors open while installing plastic sheets that do not block outside air. Some business owners caught in violations reportedly make excuses such as "customers opened the door" or "we just opened it for ventilation." To prepare for such situations, collecting evidence through recording and photography is essential. The inspection team checks about 250 workplaces over 4 hours each day.

On this day, the inspection team thoroughly checked not only first-floor stores with doors directly connected to the outside but also businesses on the second floor. Depending on the number of violations, the first offense results in a warning, but subsequent offenses incur fines ranging from 1.5 million KRW to a maximum of 3 million KRW. New York City in the United States also enacted related laws in 2008 and enforces a "Shut the front door" regulation. The second violation results in a $200 fine, and the third violation results in a $400 fine.

The Energy Agency is promoting a campaign that awards "Energy Saving Good Store" stickers to shops that voluntarily practice energy saving. This year, 88 stores nationwide, including 50 in Seoul, have been registered as good stores. The agency encourages public awareness changes by providing promotional incentives to stores actively practicing energy saving.

According to the agency, operating heating with doors closed can save about 92% of electricity compared to operating with doors open. When heating with doors open, power consumption reaches 3,871W, but it decreases to 315.2W when the doors are closed. This assumes an outside temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius and an inside temperature of 22 degrees Celsius during 10 hours of operation. Director Choi said, "Closing the entrance door during heating and cooling operations is the easiest way to save energy and reduce fine dust and greenhouse gases," and added, "We hope for the interest and participation of merchants and the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.