South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said claims that running washing machines in the evening increases household electricity bills are false [1].
The government issued the clarification to curb public anxiety caused by the spread of misinformation regarding changes to the national electricity pricing structure [1].
False reports circulated suggesting that residential consumers would see their electricity bills increase by 50% [1] if they used appliances during evening hours. The ministry said that the new electricity rate system applies exclusively to industrial electricity and does not affect residential users [2].
Officials said that the government is actively monitoring the spread of these rumors. For minor instances of misinformation, the ministry posts comments on the relevant threads to correct the facts before requesting that the original posters delete the content [1].
For more severe cases of misinformation, the ministry takes a firmer approach. A ministry official said, "For serious fake news, we are responding by reporting and accusing them to the authorities" [1].
The ministry said citizens should remain cautious of unverified information regarding utility costs and rely on official government announcements for changes to pricing policies [2].
“The new electricity rate system applies exclusively to industrial electricity and does not affect residential users.”
This government intervention highlights the volatility of public sentiment regarding utility costs in South Korea. By explicitly separating industrial and residential pricing reforms, the ministry aims to prevent a domestic panic that could lead to distorted energy consumption patterns or political backlash against energy policy shifts.
