Illegal Car Dismantling at Incheon Used Car Export Complex... Yeonsu-gu Requests Investigation of 3 Individuals

Yeonsu-gu, Incheon reported illegal car dismantling activities at a used car export complex to the police for investigation.

The Yeonsu-gu Special Vehicle Judicial Police Team announced on the 9th that last month they cracked down on the used car export complex in Okryeon-dong and caught export company manager A (61) and two foreigners on charges of illegally dismantling major used car parts such as engines, bodies, and seating devices (violation of the Automobile Management Act).

According to the Automobile Management Act, dismantling a car requires facilities, equipment, and waste oil and wastewater treatment facilities, as well as a dismantling and recycling business license from the local government. However, A and others were found to have conducted dismantling work without a license. They committed the crime aiming to transport more cars in export containers by loading dismantled vehicle parts instead of complete cars.

The district explained that if vehicles are dismantled without permission, even seized or stolen cars that cannot be exported can be exported in parts form, causing difficulties in protecting property rights and collecting taxes.

Also, dismantling vehicles without proper facilities can cause soil contamination due to waste oil and wastewater, and violators face up to two years imprisonment or fines up to 20 million won under the Automobile Management Act. The district plans to strengthen crackdowns, believing there are more exporters conducting illegal dismantling without licenses.

Incheon Used Car Export Complex
Photo by Yonhap News

The used car export complex around the former Songdo Amusement Park area houses about 670 export companies near Incheon Port, which handles over 80% of the nation's used car exports. The area has long suffered from issues such as illegal parking of deregistered (unlicensed) vehicles and purchase scams.

Especially last year, when residents suffered greatly from indiscriminate illegal parking of deregistered vehicles for export, Yeonsu-gu took strong measures, including installing movement restriction devices on unlicensed vehicles nationwide for the first time.

A Yeonsu-gu official said, "The Okryeon-dong used car export complex is densely populated with overseas used car traders and requires continuous attention," adding, "We will not only crack down but also provide guidance and promotional activities to related businesses so they can improve their work environment on their own."