46 Public Institutions Including Those That Failed to Comply with Last Year's Low-Emission Vehicle Mandatory Purchase Fined 1 Million Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] A fine of 1 million KRW will be imposed on 46 administrative and public institutions in the Seoul metropolitan area that failed to meet the mandatory purchase ratio of low-emission vehicles last year.

The mandatory purchase system for low-emission vehicles requires national agencies, local governments, and public institutions in the Seoul metropolitan area to purchase or lease a certain percentage (70% in 2019) or more of low-emission vehicles.

This measure is the first case of imposing a fine since the regulation on fines related to mandatory purchase of low-emission vehicles was newly established in December 2017 under the "Special Act on Improvement of Air Quality in the Seoul Metropolitan Area."

According to the Ministry of Environment's investigation of the purchase and lease performance of low-emission vehicles in the public sector of the Seoul metropolitan area, a total of 3,643 vehicles were purchased or leased by 226 institutions. Among them, 2,461 were low-emission vehicles, and when applying the low-emission vehicle conversion ratio, the total was calculated as 3,035 vehicles (83.3%).

The institutions that failed to achieve the mandatory purchase ratio of low-emission vehicles included 12 national agencies, 17 local governments, and 29 public institutions, totaling 58 institutions (26.1%). Among these, the Ministry of Environment plans to impose a fine of 1 million KRW on 46 local governments and public institutions.

The institutions that met the mandatory purchase ratio of low-emission vehicles were 168 (74.3%). Notably, among them, 11 institutions purchased or leased all vehicles as first-class low-emission vehicles (electric and hydrogen vehicles).

The Ministry of Environment plans to continuously strengthen the mandatory purchase system for low-emission vehicles to lead the public sector in promoting eco-friendly vehicles.

With the amendment of the Air Quality Preservation Act, the mandatory purchase system for low-emission vehicles will be expanded nationwide. From this year, all new vehicles purchased or leased by administrative and public institutions nationwide must be 100% low-emission vehicles (classes 1, 2, and 3).

From next year, at least 80% of these must be first-class low-emission vehicles, i.e., electric and hydrogen vehicles, and this will be strengthened to 100% from 2022.

Additionally, vehicle types excluded from the mandatory purchase due to the unavailability of low-emission vehicles will be gradually reduced in connection with the future release of electric and hydrogen vehicles.

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