Government to Collect 520 Million Won in Unpaid Tolls on Private Expressways

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 2nd that approximately 520 million KRW in unpaid toll fees were collected through the 'Second Pilot Project for Forced Collection of Unpaid Toll Fees on Private Highways.'

This project was conducted for about seven months starting from December last year, based on the 'Agreement for Efficient Collection of Unpaid Toll Fees' signed between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korea Transport Institute's Private Road Management Support Center, and 18 private highway corporations.

The project targeted 3,580 cases out of 4,997 cases with more than 50 unpaid instances, where addresses or contact information were secured and forced collection notices could be issued.

Among the 2,128 cases collected, the highest unpaid amount was 4,855,400 KRW (143 times), and the highest number of unpaid instances was 1,104 times (948,100 KRW). The section with the highest collection performance was the Capital Region 1st Ring Expressway (Ilsan-Toegyewon) private highway with 987 cases.

For cases where toll fees were not paid even after receiving the forced collection notice, the 18 private corporations plan to proceed with criminal charges.

Using the highway without paying the toll fee constitutes the crime of unauthorized use of convenience facilities as defined in the Criminal Act, punishable by imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to 5 million KRW, detention, or a penalty.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to evaluate and supplement the first and second pilot projects and convert them into a regular project starting in the second half of this year.

Oh Wonman, Director of the Road Investment Support Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We will continue to manage and supervise so that the unpaid toll fees recovered through forced collection are used to enhance the convenience and safety of highways."