[Summary] From Gas Station Chaos to Donation Angels in Front of Fire Stations... Scenes of the 'Yosusu Crisis'

Trading at Over 10 Times the Price on Online Shopping Malls
Scenes of Cars Lining Up in Front of Gas Stations Unfold
'Donation Angels' Leaving Urea Solution at Fire Stations Also Appear

On the afternoon of the 4th, a shortage of "AdBlue," an essential additive for diesel engine vehicles, caused trucks to line up for a long time to refill AdBlue at a highway rest area gas station in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Confusion continues due to the shortage of 'yoso-su' (urea solution), an essential item for operating diesel vehicles. While posts urgently seeking yoso-su flood online shopping malls, a rare sight of vehicles lining up in long queues in front of gas stations has also been seen. Meanwhile, a quiet 'donation parade' of yoso-su left in front of 119 Safety Centers, which are essential for social safety, has moved citizens.

◆Yoso-su prices soar 10 times online... Vehicle queues at gas stations

Recently, posts urgently seeking yoso-su have flooded online trading platforms such as 'Danggeun Market'. Some even offered to trade yoso-su, which used to cost only 10,000 KRW per 10ℓ container, for as much as 120,000 to 130,000 KRW.

One netizen pleaded, "I can't operate my vehicle because there is no yoso-su," adding, "I will buy at any price, so please sell me even just one." Another netizen urged yoso-su sellers to "prioritize selling to cargo trucks and buses that are struggling with their business immediately."

On online trading platforms such as Danggeun Market, posts from netizens offering to purchase urea solution at prices typically more than 10 times higher have also appeared. / Photo by Internet Community Capture

Yoso-su is a liquid used in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system of diesel vehicles, which helps reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions emitted by diesel cars. Without yoso-su, diesel vehicles equipped with SCR cannot operate.

Yoso-su is manufactured by extracting urea (ammonia) from coal or natural gas and mixing it with distilled water. Recently, a supply shortage has occurred as China restricted exports of the key raw material, urea.

The confusion extended to areas near gas stations. Recently, many gas stations nationwide posted notices indicating that yoso-su was sold out. Also, as citizens rushed to gas stations to obtain yoso-su, long vehicle queues formed.

◆Boxes of yoso-su in front of fire stations... 'Donation angels' keep coming

However, some citizens moved others by participating in 'donations' of yoso-su left in front of fire stations. According to the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters on the 7th, between 8 and 9 a.m. that day, boxes containing yoso-su were placed at the entrances of the Yulha, Jangyu, and Jinrye 119 Safety Centers of the Gimhae West Fire Station. Donors each left one box of yoso-su at the safety centers and then left.

Donations of urea solution continued to be made to the Yulha, Jangyu, and Jinrye 119 Safety Centers of the Gimhae West Fire Station. / Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters

At around 10 p.m. on the previous day (the 6th), two containers of yoso-su were also donated in front of a safety center at the Chuncheon Fire Station in Gangwon Province. On the 5th, a man was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) leaving three containers of yoso-su at the Songdo-dong 119 Safety Center in Incheon and then disappearing. None of the donors left any letters or messages.

These citizens appear to have participated in donations to prevent delays in 119 emergency dispatches caused by the shortage of yoso-su. It is reported that among the 6,758 fire trucks and 1,675 ambulances operated by the fire authorities, 80.5% of fire trucks and 90% of ambulances are diesel vehicles equipped with SCR.

◆Government discusses solutions to yoso-su shortage including emergency overseas imports

Amid this situation, the government is reviewing various measures to resolve the yoso-su supply crisis. On the 2nd, the Office for Government Policy Coordination checked the domestic yoso supply status together with related ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Government Seoul Office.

To facilitate yoso imports, the government first requested cooperation from the Chinese government to resume imports for urgently needed quantities. In preparation for prolonged supply instability, the government is also considering diversifying import sources to countries other than China and Russia, and plans to consider converting industrial-grade urea for vehicle use within limits that do not affect public health and vehicle operation safety.

A plan to urgently import 20,000 liters of yoso-su from Australia has also been prepared. The government announced that on the 7th, at the 2nd External Economic Security Strategy Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, these matters were discussed. Additionally, military transport aircraft will be used to expedite the transportation of the imported quantities.

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