Sejong, April 29 - The Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Jeoung Ae) announced that a total of 19,079 vehicles participated in the measures to reduce air pollution, including installing an exhaust emission reduction device or participating in the car scrappage scheme. It results from a ban on grade 5 emission vehicles on roads in the greater Seoul area for 82 days during the 3rd seasonal fine dust management program (December 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, excluding weekends). Of the 19,079 vehicles applied for the low-pollution vehicle project, 5,271 have completed related action, where 3,840 cars were scrapped, and 1,431 cars installed low-emission devices.

According to the Ministry of Environment, the grade-5 vehicle restriction and emission reduction program worked successfully together, resulting in a decrease of 372,872 grade-5 vehicles in a year. The number of grade-5 vehicles, which were not followed the low-pollution vehicle project, was 1,282,878 by the end of the 2nd seasonal fine dust management program (March 31, 2021). The number was lowered to 910,006 by the end of the 3rd seasonal fine dust management program (March 31, 2022), a 30% decline. The significant drop in annual fine dust emissions is estimated to be about 1,046 tons, which is 16.9% of 6,182 tons of fine dust from mobile sources in 2019 and 50.9% of 2,053 tons of fine dust emissions in the metropolitan area. Furthermore, secondary substances, such as sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and volatile organic compounds, are projected to have reduced by 6 tons, 27,505 tons, and 2,032 tons, respectively.

The number of violation cases in driving grade-5 emission vehicles in the greater Seoul area was 103,759, averaging 1,265 violations per day. It decreased by 48.3% compared to the average daily number of 2,447 violation cases during the 2nd seasonal fine dust management program when there were relatively many vehicles excluded from the regulation. 

Twenty-eight thousand two vehicles are subject to the regulation, with 14,248 from the metropolitan area and 13,754 from outlying regions. However, suppose a vehicle registered outside of the metropolitan region completes either early scrappage or the installation of low-emission devices. In that case, the fine will be voided, and any money previously paid will be reimbursed.

During trial regulation for driving grade-5 emission vehicles in the 3rd seasonal fine dust management program, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Sejong ("six metropolitan cities") had a total of 56,190 violations, averaging 5,822 cases per day. Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Sejong ("six metropolitan cities") had a total of 56,190 violations, averaging 5,822 cases per day. Each of the six metropolitan cities is revising its ordinances to lay the groundwork for the restricted operation of grade-5 vehicles for this year's seasonal fine dust management program. Sejong and Daejeon have completed updating their regulations as of today.

The Ministry of Environment and local governments nationwide aggressively carry out low-pollution vehicle initiatives, including limiting driving grade-5 emission vehicles or scrapping them early. This year, the program will promote 350,000 grade-5 diesel vehicles' early scrappage and install low-emission devices on 35,000 vehicles. This year, purchasing a diesel car will be discouraged if a person decides to go for early scrappage and buy another vehicle; however, purchasing a zero-emission vehicle (electric or hydrogen) will be encouraged with more subsidies. Previously, if a person scrapped his or her car early and bought a new diesel car, he or she received a 70% subsidy, which is now only 50%. Those who purchased a zero-emission car were given a 100% subsidy, but with the revised regulation, they will now get a 100% subsidy plus KRW 500,000. The subsidy scheme will apply on a trial basis to all vehicles with five persons or less seating capacity. The scheme is planned to expand its scope to include other car types depending on the release of new zero-emission vehicles.

* KRW 1,430,000 = KRW 2,050,000 x 70% / ** KRW 1,020,000 = KRW 2,050,000 x 50%

Park Yeon-jae, Director-General of Air Quality Policy Bureau, said, "We were able to eliminate a significant portion of grade-5 emission vehicles thanks to the citizens' active participation in low pollution vehicle project for old diesel cars. Starting next year, we will expand the early scrappage program to grade-4 emission vehicles as well and accelerate our fine dust reduction efforts in the transportation sector."

Contact: SONG Tae-gon

Transportation Environment Division/ +82-(0)44-201-6929 

Foreign Media Contact: CHUN Minjo

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr