South Korea Implements Odd-Even Vehicles amid Fuel Crisis

South Korean authorities will restrict the use of government vehicles based on odd-even license plates amid a fuel crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

The Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday (1/4), quoting the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, that the restriction of government vehicles with odd-even systems will take effect on April 8, six days after the oil supply disruption warning level was raised, to give people time to prepare for the new rules.

Based on the new policy, vehicles with odd last digits can only be used on odd dates, and vehicles with even last digits only on even dates.

Vehicles that transport disabled people and pregnant women, which account for about 25 percent of all vehicles, are not included in this rule.

The participation of the private sector in the five-day restriction system is voluntary, although access to paid parking managed by local governments and government agencies is restricted.

For example, vehicles with license plates ending in the numbers 1 or 6 are not allowed to park in public parking areas on Mondays.

According to the ministry's estimates, tightening the system of using official vehicles will reduce additional oil consumption by 37.5 percent, or around 17,000 to 87,000 barrels per month.

On March 24, the South Korean government tightened restrictions on the use of official vehicles by dividing all government vehicles into five groups based on the last number plate, where each group is prohibited from traveling on certain weekdays.

On Wednesday, the government decided to raise the level of crisis alert for resource security for crude oil from Level 2 to Level 3 out of a total of four levels, effective from 00.00 local time on April 2.

The United States and Israel in late February launched attacks on a number of targets in Iran, including in Tehran, which caused damage and civilian casualties.

Iran then retaliated by attacking Israeli territory as well as US military facilities in the Middle East.

Escalation of the conflict related to Iran has led to a de facto blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for the shipment of oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets. It also affects the level of oil exports and production in the region, thus pushing up prices.

Around 70 percent of South Korea's oil imports pass through the strait.