Seoul: The government has announced the strict enforcement of a mandatory five-day vehicle rotation system for the public sector as a precautionary measure against potential oil supply disruptions. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment confirming the implementation of additional energy-saving measures.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the government will enhance monitoring efforts to ensure the public sector adheres to the license plate-based rationing system. This system categorizes vehicles into five groups based on the last digit of their license plate numbers, prohibiting each group from driving on a designated weekday. Although the system has been in place, it has not been strictly enforced until now. Notably, electric and hydrogen vehicles will remain exempt from these restrictions.

The government also plans to encourage the private sector to voluntarily comply with the program due to increasing uncertainties in crude oil supplies. There is consideration to make the system mandatory for the private sector if a Level 3 national resource crisis alert is issued regarding oil supply.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's decision follows the government's recent move to elevate the alert level for potential crude oil supply disruptions to Level 2 within South Korea's four-tier national resource security crisis warning system.