SEOUL -(Dow Jones)- The South Korean government will raise its energy alert level and take energy conservation measures to better cope with surging global oil prices, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said Sunday.

The nation's energy alert level will be raised one notch from the current 'blue' to 'yellow,' the ministry said in a statement.

The move comes as the price for Dubai crude has stayed above the key $100 per barrel level for five days in a row, it said.

With the raise of the alert level, the government will focus on cutting back unnecessary energy use, which will include restricting various shops and apartment complexes from lighting up building exteriors and advertisements late in the night, the ministry said.

The alert level will be lowered back down to the 'blue' level should Dubai crude oil prices recede and stay below $100 per barrel for five straight days, a ministry official said. But should oil prices rise beyond the $130 per barrel level and stay there for five days, the alert level will be raised another notch to 'orange,' he added.

The recent political tensions in the Middle East and North Africa have raised supply shortage concerns and pushed global oil prices higher.

South Korea imports more than 80% of its oil from the Middle East.

-By Min-Jeong Lee, Dow Jones Newswires; 822-3700-1908; min-jeong.lee@ dowjones.com

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