South Korea may expand vehicle rotation to private sector

March 30, 2026 (MLN): South Korea may expand its mandatory five-day vehicle rotation system to the private sector if global oil prices climb to US$120-130 per barrel, as part of nationwide energy-saving measures amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The current program restricts vehicles from operating one day out of every five business days based on the last digit of their license plate numbers.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, made the remarks during a KBS television interview, noting that a rise to $120-$130 per barrel could prompt the government to raise the national resource crisis alert from Level 2 to Level 3, APP reported.

The government last week raised the alert to Level 2 under its four-tier national resource security warning system, while enforcing the rotation system for the public sector and urging voluntary participation from the private sector.

The minister added that the government is preparing a 25 trillion won (US$16.6 billion) supplementary budget to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on small and medium-sized enterprises and vulnerable households. The ruling Democratic Party and the government plan to submit the bill to the National Assembly later this week.

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