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An indoor temperature close to 30°C was measured in an apartment in Seoul during winter. [Provided by reader]
[Herald Economy Reporter Kim Gwang-woo] "At home, I just have to wear a t-shirt and shorts, period."
It was the early morning of the 3rd, with the Seoul temperature suddenly dropping to minus 10 degrees Celsius. An indoor temperature close to 30°C was measured in an apartment. This result made the bitter cold outside seem irrelevant.
The temperature was as if it were summer. However, this is also a common situation in Korea, the 'land of Ondol' (Korean underfloor heating).
In reality, Korea tends to maintain particularly high indoor temperatures during winter. This is different from major countries like Japan, Europe, and the US, where people worry about health issues due to low average indoor temperatures.
Of course, this isn't something to be proud of. Korea's energy sources are mostly based on 'fossil fuels'. Heating more means polluting the Earth with an enormous amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
Concerns about excessive energy use are growing day by day. The government has also emphasized regulating indoor temperatures below the appropriate winter level (20°C).
The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment recently launched an energy-saving campaign with the aim of setting indoor heating temperatures to 20°C for winter. 20°C was set as the appropriate temperature considering the heating cost savings effect. They explain that lowering the temperature by just 1 degree can reduce energy consumption by about 7%.
The 20°C indoor temperature recommended by the government is similar to late spring weather and is relatively comfortable. Compared to mid-winter, it can be considered 'warm'. However, it is known that indoor temperatures in Korean homes during winter are usually above 20°C.
According to research on indoor thermal environments during winter conducted since the 2000s, the average indoor temperature in general households during winter has been measured between a minimum of 22°C and a maximum of 25°C, depending on the conditions. This is due to the high proportion of the population living in apartments with relatively strong insulation and the formation of a culture of keeping indoor spaces warm.
The habit of wearing light clothing indoors during winter also seems to contribute to a heating culture above the appropriate temperature. According to a survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, 46.4% of the public live indoors in summer attire, such as shorts and tank tops, even in the middle of winter.
This heating culture in Korea is criticized as being excessively high compared to other major countries. A prime example is neighboring Japan. According to a study by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducted in 2020, the average living room temperature in Japan during winter was 16.8°C. This means many households spend winter with indoor temperatures below 18°C.
In Western countries like Europe and the US, indoor temperatures during winter are typically around 20°C or below. In fact, many people maintain indoor temperatures lower than the appropriate standard, to the point where health issues are a concern. In the UK, deaths due to lack of heating have occurred one after another, leading to the emergence of the keyword 'Cold Homes Epidemic'.
Even the '20°C' appropriate indoor temperature targeted by the Korean government is somewhat high compared to international standards. This is because the recommendations are delivered with a focus on asking people to lower indoor temperatures, unlike other countries. Many countries, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), set a minimum recommended indoor temperature of 18°C or higher for winter.
The unusually high heating temperatures are largely influenced by the Ondol culture, which heats the entire house. Ondol heats the floor, uniformly warming the entire space and efficiently raising the indoor air temperature. The widespread adoption of light clothing indoors is also not unrelated to this.
However, the energy used for heating itself is considerable. According to the Korea Energy Economics Institute, as of 2023, 62.9% of total energy in the household sector was used for heating and hot water. Since most of it is used for heating, the government's stance is that energy use can be reduced by lowering indoor temperatures.
-Omitted-
Source https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/016/0002566880
"Koreans are apparently living in saunas during winter, crankin' up the heat to 30°C while the rest of the world is freezing. They're either too comfy, too used to Ondol, or just like wearing shorts indoors year-round. 😂"
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