The Seoul municipal government said Monday it will cut down subway operations in the summer months as part of efforts to save energy amid concerns over a power shortage following the recent shutdown of nuclear reactors.

An electricity shortage overhangs South Korea after it halted the operation of two nuclear reactors in late May while delaying the scheduled operation of two other reactors as substandard control cables had been used in the reactors.

Earlier this month, the country issued a warning for a possible power shortage after its power reserves dropped to below what is considered a safe level.

Under its comprehensive energy-saving measures, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to lengthen the headway of subway cars by up to one minute from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays in July and August, which will cause the average number of trains running per day to decrease by 12.5 percent to 919 cars.

It set up regulations under which shop owners are obliged to keep indoor temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius and to ensure doors are closed when the air conditioner is on. Shop owners often leave doors open as a way to lure customers from the streets, especially in hot weather.

After a one-month grace period, the authorities will launch an intensive crackdown on shops in major shopping districts such as in Myeong-dong, Sinchon and Gangnam, and those who violate the rules will face fines of up to 3 million won ($2,700) starting in July.

Following the recent revision of relevant rules, a total of 13,095 buildings in Seoul must now comply with the restrictions on indoor temperatures, up from last year’s 424 commercial buildings.

“Along with existing energy-saving measures such as encouraging officials to abandon jackets and ties, and turning off lights at city hall, we will actively push for new measures to reduce the peak-time energy use by up to 20 percent compared to last year,” a city official said. (Yonhap News)