Government to Fully Strengthen Five-Day Vehicle Rotation for Public Institutions... Now Includes Compact and Hybrid Cars

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The government is significantly strengthening the five-day vehicle rotation system for public institutions in response to energy supply instability caused by the prolonged Middle East war. The new measures will include compact cars and hybrid vehicles, expand the scope to all local governments nationwide, and essentially manage the system at a mandatory level.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced on March 26, 2026, that it will implement stricter enforcement of the five-day rotation system for public institution passenger vehicles across all local governments and public agencies nationwide.

The five-day vehicle rotation system for public institutions had already been in place under the “Regulations on the Promotion of Rational Energy Use in Public Institutions,” but its effectiveness was questioned, as implementation was left to the discretion of each institution. With the recent intensification of crude oil supply instability, the government has decided to comprehensively strengthen the system.

First, the range of vehicles subject to the system will be expanded. Whereas compact cars and hybrid vehicles were previously exempt in some cases, these will now be included together with all official vehicles of public institutions and all passenger vehicles with ten seats or fewer used by executives and employees.

However, vehicles for people with disabilities, vehicles carrying infants, electric and hydrogen vehicles, and vehicles used by employees living in areas with poor public transportation will continue to be exempt as before. Vehicles of civil petitioners are also excluded from the system.

The coverage of the system will also be broadened to the entire country. Previously, agencies located in cities or counties with populations of less than 300,000 could decide autonomously whether to implement the system. Going forward, all local governments and public institutions must apply the rule uniformly. However, the head of each institution may designate certain vehicles as exceptions after considering public transportation conditions.

The operating method will also be unified. Instead of the previous system where institutions could choose the day, only the “last digit system”-where the day off for each vehicle is determined by the final digit of its license plate-will be in effect.

The government plans to request that repeat violators be subject to disciplinary action or other penalties by their respective institutions.

Additionally, to improve the effectiveness of the system, the government will introduce flexible work arrangements. The aim is to disperse commuting times, enhance convenience for public transportation users, and thereby reduce vehicle use demand.

The government also plans to encourage voluntary participation from the private sector. By requesting participation from companies and citizens through local governments, the government aims to spread the effects of energy conservation more broadly.

Park Deokyeol, Director of Hydrogen and Thermal Industry Policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, stated, "The public sector's leading role is crucial in overcoming the energy crisis," adding, "We will strictly manage the five-day vehicle rotation system for public institutions to further expand energy conservation."

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