Putting new wine in old bottles:Merging the logic of the urban commons with Seoul's energy transition experiment

Abstract

By paying attention to the urban commons as an alternative concept and practice to supplement several voids in the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG)'s energy transition policy, we explore the possibility of apartment residents making a social protocol that designates certain assets as common property, through commoning renewable energy facilities, including mini photovoltaic cells. Through the case of the Hongneung Dongbu Centreville Apartment Complex, we ascertain that an urban commons-based energy transition strategy – “a resource (retained earnings, mini PVs) + a community (residents and community institutions) + a set of social protocols (rules for the commoning of mini PVs)” – is effective in supporting Seoul's energy transition. Based on our research, we argue that the SMG should be more active about introducing a commoning-based energy transition strategy into Seoul's energy policy.