Seoul: Samsung Group announced its decision to implement a five-day vehicle rotation system in an effort to support the government's energy-saving initiatives amidst fuel shortages linked to the Middle East crisis. This new measure modifies the existing 10-day rotation system that has been in place across all of Samsung's domestic operations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this shift comes approximately two weeks after Samsung first introduced the 10-day system, which required employees to refrain from driving their vehicles one day out of every 10. The restriction was determined by the last digit of their license plate numbers. Starting Wednesday, Samsung employees are encouraged to voluntarily adhere to the new five-day rotation system.

Samsung Group stated that the initiative aims to support the government's energy-saving efforts during the global energy crisis and to explore further reductions. Simultaneously, LG Group has also implemented a five-day rotation program for its domestic operations, expanding on its previous 10-day system.

The decision to tighten the vehicle rotation scheme follows the government's announcement to enforce a mandatory two-day vehicle rotation in the public sector beginning Wednesday. Under this system, government-operated vehicles and those used by public entities and their employees will be permitted to operate every other day. Exemptions apply to electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as cars used by individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, and civil servants with limited access to public transportation. Public parking facilities will continue to operate under a five-day system.

Recently, the government elevated its resource security crisis alert to Level 3, marking the second-highest stage in South Korea's four-tier crisis warning system.