Seoul City to Conduct Biweekly Mock Enforcement of Emission Restrictions on Grade 5 Vehicles from August to November

Preparation for the 4th Seasonal Fine Dust Management System Starting in December
No Fines Imposed During the Mock Inspection Period

Jung Young-bok, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office, and other officials are participating in the "Fine Dust Seasonal Management Campaign" near Cheonggye Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. This event was organized to spread the core message of seasonal fine dust management, "We are all victims and solvers of fine dust," and to encourage citizens to practice daily life habits. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 27th that it will conduct biweekly mock inspections from August to November to restrict the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles.

This mock inspection is in preparation for the 4th Seasonal Fine Dust Management System, which will be implemented starting December. During the Seasonal Fine Dust Management period, the operation of Grade 5 vehicles will be restricted throughout Seoul. The Seasonal Fine Dust Management System refers to the period from December to March when high concentrations of fine dust are concentrated, during which fine dust emissions from transportation, heating, and business sectors are intensively managed.

The mock inspections will be conducted biweekly from August to November, and no fines will be imposed during the inspection period.

The city plans to monitor the traffic status of Grade 5 vehicles entering and exiting Seoul through this mock inspection and provide guidance on low-emission measures and operation restrictions under the Seasonal Fine Dust Management System to the targeted vehicles.

As a result of the 3rd Seasonal Fine Dust Management operation restrictions, the average number of Grade 5 vehicles per day was 18,827. Excluding vehicles equipped with reduction devices or those exempt from inspection, the actual number of vehicles subject to inspection was an average of 228 per day.

Among the vehicles inspected under the 3rd Seasonal Fine Dust Management operation restrictions from last December to this March, non-metropolitan area vehicles that complete low-emission measures by September 30 of this year will have their fines canceled and any amounts already paid refunded.

Additionally, as the support project for low-emission measures for Grade 5 vehicles ends this year, the city plans to encourage prompt completion of these measures.

Since it takes more than two months to apply for low-emission measures, install reduction devices or scrap vehicles, and register them in the vehicle management system, applications must be completed by July to be exempt from fines.

Ko Seok-young, Director of Vehicle Emission Reduction at Seoul City, said, "Non-metropolitan area vehicle owners subject to fines should promptly complete low-emission measures to be exempt from fines under the Seasonal Fine Dust Management operation restrictions. The city will strengthen year-round inspections of fine dust emission sources, including Grade 5 vehicle operation restrictions and construction sites, to improve air quality."