The Korea Times
The Korean government may extend its mandatory five-day rotating ban on vehicle operation to include privately owned cars if global oil prices rise past $120 per barrel, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Sunday. Under the system, vehicles are prohibited from operating one day each week based on the last digit of their license plates — those ending in 1 and 6 on Monday, 2 and 7 on Tuesday, 3 and 8 on Wednesday, 4 and 9 on Thursday and 5 and 0 on Friday, with no restrictions on weekends. As part of efforts to address an energy supply crunch triggered by the U.S.-Iran conflict, the government has required public-sector passenger vehicles to comply with the rule since last Wednesday. Electric and hydrogen vehicles, cars used by people with disabilities and those carrying pregnant women or infants are exempt. Major financial institutions such as KB Financial Group and conglomerates including Hyundai Motor Group have also joined on a voluntary basis. Appearing on a KBS current affairs program, Koo said the government may need to raise the national resource crisis alert to Level 3 if condit
Go to News Site