November 05, 2009 10:22 AM

South Korea, Japan Urged To Jointly Adopt Daylight Savings Time

SEOUL, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Businesses from South Korea and Japan urged their governments Wednesday to jointly set the nations' clocks forward an hour in the summer to boost tourism between the two countries, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Federation of Korean Industries, which represents the nation's powerful family-controlled conglomerates, and the Keidanren of Japan agreed to request their governments to jointly introduce daylight savings time, according to the federation.

That would set both countries' clocks ahead of standard time for several months out of the year.

"By jointly introducing daylight savings time in the two nations, let's promote tourism and leisure activities between the two nations," said Park Sam-koo, head of a tour industry committee at the federation, in a statement.

While employers want the government to introduce daylight savings time, polls show that most people are against adopting the system, fearing it may lead to longer working hours.

Daylight saving time was used in South Korea from 1986 to 1988, when the nation hosted the Asian Games and the Olympic Games, according to the federation.

-- BERNAMA

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