Jeongeup-si Supports 'Electric Vehicle Purchase Cost' to Reduce Fine Dust

Jeongeup City in Jeollabuk-do supports the purchase of electric vehicles to reduce fine dust and improve air quality.

The city announced on the 12th that it will invest 9.7 billion KRW in the budget to support the purchase of 589 electric vehicles.

Jeongeup City Hall. [Photo by Jeongeup City]

This year, the city aims to supply 281 passenger cars, 303 cargo vehicles, and 5 vans, and has been accepting applications since the 4th.

Support amounts are up to 13.5 million KRW for passenger cars, up to 18 million KRW for cargo vehicles, and up to 100 million KRW for vans.

Applicants must be citizens aged 18 or older who have continuously resided in Jeongeup for at least three months prior to the announcement date, or corporations/businesses with a business location in Jeongeup for more than one month.

Eligible applicants can visit vehicle dealerships to fill out the purchase support application form.

Additionally, the city is striving to build a safer and more convenient charging infrastructure than any other city nationwide.

Last year, Jeongeup was selected in the regional zero-emission vehicle transition brand project hosted by the Ministry of Environment, and is supplying 65 electric vehicle charging stations at a total cost of 1.5 billion KRW funded solely by national and private capital.

In particular, to prepare for the risk of large-scale disasters such as casualties caused by fires occurring during electric vehicle charging in underground parking lots?where spaces are enclosed and fire truck access is difficult?the city completed a project to relocate 23 underground chargers in 9 apartment complexes to above ground, the first such project nationwide.

Moreover, the city enacted and promulgated the “Ordinance on the Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Distribution and Use” in December last year, specifying support for the purchase and operation of eco-friendly vehicles. When parking eco-friendly vehicles in city-operated parking lots, a 50% discount on parking fees is provided, and when parking for charging, a 2-hour free parking benefit is offered.

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, “Using eco-friendly vehicles such as electric cars can reduce fine dust, improve air quality, and practice carbon neutrality. We ask citizens to purchase electric vehicles in Jeongeup, which has safer electric vehicle charging facilities than any other city, and join in preserving the environment.”

Jeongeup = Kim Jae-gil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr