(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Starting next month, older diesel cars will be barred from the road in Seoul on days when fine dust levels are high.
If car owners fail to comply with the new measures, they will be fined 100,000 won.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced yesterday that driving any diesel vehicle registered in 2005 or before will be forbidden between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. when fine dust warnings are issued.
Approximately 2.2 million cars fall into this category nationwide.
Considering that 22.69 million cars in total are currently registered nationally, 1 out of 10 vehicles will be unable to roam the streets when the air quality is poor.
City officials say that government vehicles, including those operated by the police and fire departments, will not be exempted from this rule, reflecting its hardline stance on cutting down fine dust emissions in the future.
However, vehicles registered outside of the metropolitan Seoul area and those weighing less than 2.5 tons will be excluded from the driving ban until February of next year.
This will, the local government hopes, give car owners more time to take up measures to lower emissions. Cars owned by those with disabilities will also be given the same extension.
Regulations governing pollutant-emitting vehicles were first implemented in Stockholm, Sweden in 1996 and are currently being imposed in over 200 cities worldwide.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
