Expansion of Driving Restrictions for Grade 5 Vehicles Starting Tomorrow... "Fines for Violations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 30th that it will implement the 4th Seasonal Fine Dust Management Program, restricting the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles in the metropolitan area (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi) and the metropolitan cities of Busan and Daegu from the 1st of next month until the end of March next year.

This is the first time that Grade 5 vehicle operation will be restricted in Busan and Daegu during the seasonal management period. Additionally, pilot operations will be conducted in special and metropolitan cities such as Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Sejong.

In these areas, Grade 5 vehicle operation will be restricted on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the seasonal management period. A fine of 100,000 KRW per day will be imposed for violations in areas excluding the pilot operation regions.

However, considering the difficult economic conditions in the metropolitan area, vehicles owned by basic livelihood security recipients, lower-income groups, and small business owners among Grade 5 vehicles that cannot be equipped with emission reduction devices will be exempt from enforcement.

In Busan and Daegu metropolitan cities, commercial vehicles, vehicles that have applied for low-emission measures, vehicles that cannot be equipped with emission reduction devices or cannot replace engines with low-emission engines, and vehicles owned by basic livelihood security recipients, lower-income groups, and small business owners are exempt from enforcement.

In the pilot operation areas of special and metropolitan cities such as Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Sejong, although Grade 5 vehicles may be operated, no fines will be imposed; however, drivers will receive notifications about operation restrictions and encouragement messages to participate in low-emission measures projects. The number of Grade 5 emission vehicles nationwide has decreased by 980,000, from 2.1 million at the end of 2019 to 1.12 million at the end of last October through the 1st to 3rd seasonal management programs.

Park Yeon-jae, Director of Air Quality Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "We will take the lead in reducing fine dust by expanding the areas with operation restrictions on Grade 5 vehicles and concurrently supporting early vehicle retirement programs."