"Promoting Sustainability" Olive Young, but Signs Remained Lit Even After Late-Night Closing
CJ Olive Young, which has positioned itself as "a company that conveys positive values to society and the environment," has been found keeping its store exterior signs and display window lights on during late-night hours after closing. The electricity that illuminates stores through the early morning when no one is watching carries a heavier carbon burden than daytime electricity.
In late August after business hours, Olive Young stores throughout Seoul kept their signs, internal signage, and display window lights on in dark streets where there were no customers.
Late-night lighting is problematic for reasons beyond simple "electricity waste." After sunset, solar power generation stops completely, so late-night electricity relies far more heavily on fossil fuel power generation such as coal and LNG. Even if consuming the same 1kWh, electricity used at night emits significantly more greenhouse gases. The power generation sector accounts for approximately 32% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest share after the industrial sector. This is why experts have pointed out that "turning off unnecessary late-night lighting is the cheapest carbon reduction," and the government has repeatedly restricted or recommended the late-night shutdown of outdoor signs and neon lights during power supply crises.
While the electrical load of a single store's sign and display window may seem small, viewing Olive Young's entire network of approximately 1,300 stores nationwide, it represents a non-negligible power demand. Lighting kept on all night during non-business hours represents power consumption and carbon emissions that are virtually wasted independent of sales.
CJ Olive Young is a company that has emphasized sustainable management by publishing a "2025 Olive Young Impact Report" in accordance with GRI Standards 2021. The CEO's preface also emphasized "a company that conveys positive values to society and the environment." If the company discusses environmental values in its report while keeping store lights on even after closing at night in actual store locations, it will be difficult to avoid criticism that sustainable management remains only on paper in the report.
This publication inquired of CJ Olive Young regarding lighting operation standards after business hours and energy conservation measures, but did not receive a response.