FINE ON GRADE 5 EMISSION VEHICLES

[Anchor Lead]

Drivers of Grade 5 emission vehicles will have to pay a fine for driving their cars in the Seoul metropolitan area from December to next March. The seasonal microdust control measures were introduced in Korea last year at the proposal of the public. This year the measures are to be enforced for the second time.

[Pkg]

These diesel vehicles produced in 2005 are classified as Grade 5 in terms of CO2 emissions. They are now awaiting to be discarded. Although the cars can still run normally, their owners decided to get rid of them after receiving state subsidies.

[Soundbite] AHN DONG-HYUK(INSPECTOR OF DISCARDED CARS) : "Most of the drivers are discarding their cars because of environmental problems such as microdust and restrictions in Seoul."

Once the seasonal micro-dust control measures take effect from next month for four months, Grade 5 emission vehicles will be banned from operation in the capital area. Vehicles registered in other regions will also be banned from entering the Seoul metropolitan area. Those who fail to comply will be levied a maximum fine of 100,000 won for each day of violation. However, vehicles registered in Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon will be excluded from crackdowns, as emission cutting devices have yet to be developed there. Vehicles whose drivers have applied for pollution reduction measures will also receive exemptions. As for vehicles registered in Seoul, only cars owned by low-income earners that can attach proper emission cutting devices will be excluded from crackdowns. Drivers of vehicles that implement pollution reduction measures by November 2021 will be able to receive refunds on penalties. The Ministry of Environment plans to expand restrictions on Grade 5 emission vehicles nationwide from next year.

[Soundbite] CHO MYUNG-RAE(MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT) : "This year we will just publicize the measures in regions outside of the capital area. We are considering enforcing restrictions nationwide when the third round of measures are implemented."

As of September this year, there were 1,780,000 Grade 5 emission vehicles in Korea. More than 1.4 million do not have emission cutting devices.