'Fine Dust Seasonal Management System' First Month, Over 9,600 Grade 5 Emission Vehicles Monitored

Seoul City to Cancel and Refund Fines for Low Emission Measures by November
Driving Restrictions Enforced from This Month for Vehicles Without Developed Emission Reduction Devices

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] During the first month of Seoul's implementation of the 'Fine Dust Seasonal Management System,' over 9,600 vehicles classified as emission grade 5 were caught violating the driving restrictions.

According to Seoul City on the 14th, the total number of emission grade 5 vehicle violations recorded in Seoul last December was 27,543. Excluding duplicate violations, the actual number of vehicles caught was 9,658.

Among these, 1,458 vehicles were caught more than twice, 2,074 vehicles were caught three or more times, and 365 vehicles were caught 11 or more times. The highest number of violations by a single vehicle was 21 times, with a total of 19 such vehicles.

By region, 1,919 vehicles were from Seoul, 312 from Incheon, and 4,774 from Gyeonggi Province. Vehicles from outside the metropolitan area, including Chungnam (412), Gangwon (373), Chungbuk (296), and Gyeongbuk (290), totaled 2,653.

Among the grade 5 vehicles caught, 8.3% (799 vehicles) took low-emission measures such as installing Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) or early scrapping after being caught. The city canceled fines for these vehicles and refunded the amounts paid. Seoul plans to cancel all fines imposed for violations of the seasonal management driving restrictions and refund payments for vehicles that complete low-emission measures by November.

Since the automobile management system verifies low-emission measures monthly, vehicle owners do not need to submit separate documents or provide explanations for fine cancellations.

Among grade 5 vehicles exempt from enforcement, 7,596 disabled vehicles operated in December, with 44% (3,305 vehicles) lacking DPF installation. The city urges disabled vehicle owners to actively cooperate with low-emission measures to reduce fine dust, even if they are exempt from enforcement.

Vehicles that cannot install DPF due to lack of development were exempt from driving restrictions in December last year but will be subject to restrictions starting this month. However, vehicles owned by basic livelihood security recipients and low-income households are exempt from enforcement.

Currently, Seoul enforces driving restrictions on emission grade 5 vehicles without low-emission measures from December through March, when high concentrations of fine dust frequently occur, imposing a fine of 100,000 KRW upon violation.

The city, together with the Ministry of Environment, subsidizes 90% of the cost for installing DPF on grade 5 vehicles. Additionally, for early scrapping, the Insurance Development Institute supports up to 3 million KRW based on the quarterly vehicle standard value, and vehicles unable to install DPF receive 600,000 KRW upon scrapping.

Lee Sa-hyung, Director of Seoul City's Vehicle Pollution Reduction Division, urged, "Owners of emission grade 5 vehicles subject to enforcement should actively utilize the DPF cost support and early scrapping benefits provided by the city to complete low-emission measures by November 30, before the next seasonal management driving restrictions are implemented, to avoid fines and other disadvantages."