President Lee Jae Myung presides over a weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap

Korea will strengthen the restriction on what days workers in the public sector can drive their vehicles starting Wednesday, as the prolonged Middle East conflict squeezes global energy supplies.

For the private sector, the government decided to leave the fuel-saving measure as a voluntary program rather than forcing it.

Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-whan announced the measure during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul Tuesday.

Under the rule, drivers of gas-powered vehicles in the public sector, including central and local governments and their affiliated organizations, must refrain from driving one day every week, with the day determined by the last digit of their license plate.

The system had already been in place in the public sector, but enforcement was largely symbolic and violations carried light penalties such as workplace parking bans. Under the expanded framework, however, public sector violators will face tougher penalties following warnings. Exceptions apply to pregnant individuals, parents with infants and people with disabilities. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are also exempt from the rule.

The environment ministry estimates the reinforced measure will affect 1.5 million vehicles and could help save 3,000 barrels of petroleum per day.

The government had initially considered applying the mandatory program to the private sector as well. But it decided against that out of concern that the measure may seriously affect the livelihood of cargo truck drivers, delivery service providers and other self-employed people whose jobs are heavily reliant on driving.

"We are encouraging the private sector to participate voluntarily, but if the level of resource security is elevated from warning to alert, we may consider making it mandatory," Kim said.

The program is in line with President Lee Jae Myung’s call for a “government-wide preemptive emergency response system” to address insecurity in the supply of crude oil, natural gas and other energy resources as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran has been squeezing supplies.

Source: Korea Times News