Over 30,000 Old Diesel Vehicles in Seoul Underwent 'Low Emission Measures' This Year

From December, Continuous Driving Ban on Grade 5 Emission Vehicles... 100,000 KRW Fine for Violations
Seoul City Increases Early Retirement Subsidy up to 3 Million KRW and Expands Support Targets

Vehicles are passing under the aged diesel vehicle monitoring CCTV installed on the Seongsan Bridge direction of Gangbyeonbuk-ro, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Starting this December, during the fine dust seasonal management period (December to March), continuous driving restrictions on Grade 5 emission vehicles will be enforced, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government is accelerating low-emission measures for old vehicles.

Seoul announced on the 6th that it completed low-emission measures such as early scrapping and installation of diesel particulate filters (DPF) for about 30,000 old vehicles (including construction machinery) such as diesel vehicles in the first half of this year. This includes 14,368 vehicles scrapped early, 16,109 vehicles equipped with particulate filters, 160 1-ton cargo trucks converted to LPG vehicles, and 218 vehicles with PM-NOx filters installed or construction machinery engines replaced.

Earlier, following the passage of the amendment to the "Special Act on the Reduction and Management of Fine Dust" in March, the city conducted a pilot operation of driving restrictions on Grade 5 vehicles until March 31. From this December, when the fine dust seasonal management resumes, the driving restrictions will be fully enforced with monitoring, and violators will be fined 100,000 KRW.

The city expects a significant increase in demand for low-emission projects such as installing particulate filters and early scrapping, and is expanding these projects further. Vehicles equipped with particulate filters are exempt from driving restrictions during high-concentration fine dust emergency reduction measures, green transportation zone restrictions, and seasonal management driving restrictions.

In particular, to encourage early scrapping, which has a significant effect on air quality improvement, the scrapping subsidy for vehicles under 3.5 tons total weight has been increased from 1.65 million KRW to 3 million KRW starting this year, and the support targets have been expanded. Additionally, from April 3, the registration requirement for the air quality management zone has been relaxed from two years to six months of registration in the Seoul area to actively encourage early scrapping of eligible vehicles.

Applications for early scrapping and particulate filter installation can be made through the Korea Automobile Environment Association (www.aea.or.kr/new), and detailed inquiries can be directed to the Seoul Vehicle Pollution Reduction Division (02-2133-3653, 3655).

Lee Sa-hyung, head of the Seoul Vehicle Pollution Reduction Division, urged, "Since continuous driving restrictions on Grade 5 emission vehicles under the fine dust seasonal management will be implemented from December, we hope Grade 5 vehicle owners will avoid inconvenience and disadvantages by opting for early scrapping or installing particulate filters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.