Jeong Muchang, Gwangju City Council Member: "Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, 0% Mandatory Purchase of Eco-Friendly Vehicles"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeong Muchang, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council (Gwangsan 2·Education and Culture Committee), pointed out that the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is not complying with the legally mandated purchase ratio for electric and hydrogen vehicles.

According to Councilor Jeong on the 8th, the ‘Public Sector Mandatory Purchase Target Institution Vehicle Purchase Performance and Plan’ announced by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in May showed that the Gwangju Office of Education recorded 0% in the mandatory purchase ratio of low-emission vehicles (eco-friendly vehicles) among new vehicles last year.

The government is gradually increasing the mandatory purchase ratio of electric and hydrogen vehicles in the public sector to achieve carbon neutrality.

Additionally, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment jointly operate the ‘Public Sector Low-Emission Vehicle (Eco-Friendly Vehicle) Mandatory Purchase System’ under the ‘Act on the Development and Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Automobiles’ and the ‘Air Quality Preservation Act.’

Accordingly, since last year, the government has expanded the mandatory purchase system from the metropolitan area to nationwide and annually surveys the performance of a total of 609 institutions (50 national institutions, 251 local governments, and 308 public institutions).

Looking at the purchase performance of low-emission vehicles in the public sector by 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education last year, Busan Metropolitan Office of Education achieved 133.3%, and 11 offices of education, including Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, achieved 100% purchase performance. Gangwon Office of Education achieved 75%, while Gwangju Office of Education recorded 0% in purchase performance.

Furthermore, it was found that there have been no purchases of electric or hydrogen vehicles by the Gwangju Office of Education, its affiliated organizations, or schools over the past three years.

Councilor Jeong said, “As a public institution, the Gwangju Office of Education should actively participate in making Gwangju a safe, eco-friendly clean city and a ‘carbon-neutral, energy self-reliant city’ by addressing the climate crisis and fine dust issues.”

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