Ministry of Environment to Conduct Special Nationwide Vehicle Emission Inspections Against Fine Dust by the End of This Month

Non-stop exhaust gas measurement using a video measuring device.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 14th that, together with 17 metropolitan cities and provinces and the Korea Environment Corporation, it will conduct intensive inspections of vehicle emissions at over 500 locations nationwide from the 15th to the 31st to reduce fine dust emissions in spring.

Each city and province plans to focus inspections on freight vehicles with high fine dust emission rates, as well as buses and academy vehicles that frequently travel within urban areas.

The Korea Environment Corporation will carry out remote emission measurements using Remote Sensing Devices (RSD) targeting vehicles in motion at seven major entry and exit points in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. In particular, at the southern end of Dongho Bridge in Seoul, drivers will be able to immediately check whether their vehicles exceed emission standards, with measurement results displayed on an electronic board categorized as Good, Moderate, or Poor.

Vehicle drivers must comply with this inspection. Those who refuse, evade, or obstruct the inspection will be fined up to 2 million KRW. Owners of vehicles exceeding emission standards will receive an improvement order to have their vehicles serviced and inspected within 15 days. Failure to comply with the improvement order will result in a suspension of operation for up to 10 days, and noncompliance with the suspension order may lead to a fine of up to 3 million KRW.

During this inspection period, the Ministry of Environment (Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office) and three metropolitan cities including Seoul will also conduct inspections to check for unauthorized removal or illegal damage of diesel particulate filters on grade 5 emission vehicles in the metropolitan area. Vehicles with diesel particulate filters removed or damaged without authorization will be subject to imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to 10 million KRW under the Air Quality Preservation Act.

Kim Seung-hee, Director of Air Quality Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Through this special inspection, we plan to encourage vehicles that excessively emit smoke to receive proper maintenance and inspection, and actively promote government-supported programs such as early retirement of old diesel vehicles."

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