hankyoreh

A fashion show hosted by the Korea Green Foundation as part of their Cool Biz Campaign 2008 was held in the lobby of a government building near Gwanghwamun on June 2. Chol Yeol, the foundation director, fifth from the left, is one of the models in the show.

The foundation encourages people not to wear neckties in the office, and all of the menswear in the Cool Biz collection reflects this ideal. Going without a tie lowers the somesthetic temperature by 1 or 2 degrees, which could lead to a reduction in the amount of electricity used and a corresponding reduction in CO2 levels in the workplace. Somesthetic temperature refers to one’s awareness of one’s own body. The foundation has held the campaign since 2005.

Park Sang-won, a television entertainer and a member of the Korea Green Foundation, said, “We hope that this fashion show will encourage people to think about global warming.”

The city of Busan has also launched a “no tie” campaign to reduce the city’s electric bill.