"Why Use 국민 Blood Tax?"... Lee Eon-ju Criticizes Subsidies for Imported Electric Cars

"No Measures from the Ministry of Environment Despite Imported Electric Vehicles Encroaching on the Market"

Lee Eon-ju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the national subsidies for imported electric vehicles, saying, "Are we nurturing other countries' industries with our citizens' tax money?"

Yonhap News

On the 30th, Lee posted on her Facebook, "I cannot understand why the Korean government provides subsidies for imported electric vehicles," adding, "Is the purpose of electric vehicle subsidies not to foster the 'domestic' electric vehicle industry, but rather to nurture the 'electric vehicle' industry ecosystem regardless of nationality? In this era of nationalism, this is truly foolish."

She continued, "Although I cannot understand it, perhaps it had to be this way because the main department responsible for electric vehicle subsidies is the Ministry of Environment, not the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE)," and criticized, "For several years, the Ministry of Environment has had no measures or interest, regardless of whether the domestic electric vehicle market is being encroached upon by imports."

Lee said, "While MOTIE is anxious about overseas supply chain issues, domestic ecosystem problems, and the protection and survival of domestic industries related to electric vehicles and batteries, the domestic electric vehicle market overseen by the Ministry of Environment has been entirely encroached upon by imports in the bus market over the past few years, and now the passenger car market is about to follow," adding, "Despite countless criticisms from the National Assembly and the media, the Ministry of Environment has no measures. It's outrageous."

Furthermore, Lee emphasized the need to change the department responsible for electric vehicles and to consider abolishing or suspending the electric vehicle subsidy system. She said, "We must no longer leave the domestic electric vehicle market in the hands of the Ministry of Environment, which views it from an abstract perspective like 'environment' rather than the immediate realities such as 'industrial competitiveness or supply chains' worldwide," adding, "Even now, we need to calmly organize the supply chain issues and arrange both the responsible department and the nature of the subsidies in a convincing direction. If that is not possible, it is worth considering abolishing or suspending the electric vehicle subsidy system, which currently offers little practical benefit, for the time being."