The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sungwhan) announced that it has finalized the “2026 Subsidy Program Implementation Guidelines*” ahead of schedule to promote the deployment of hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen refueling stations in 2026, and will begin full-scale implementation of the subsidy programs starting January 5.

* (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) 2026 Subsidy Implementation Guidelines for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Deployment Program

(Hydrogen Refueling Stations) 2026 Subsidy Implementation Guidelines for the Hydrogen Refueling Station Installation and Fuel Cost Support Program

※ Subsidy payments are scheduled to commence from the end of January 2026, following the project announcement procedures conducted by local governments and other relevant entities.

In 2025, the number of hydrogen vehicles deployed increased by 182% year on year from 2024, reaching 6,903 units. In particular, the deployment of hydrogen passenger vehicles surged to 5,708 units, an increase of 210% compared to the previous year, following the release of a new model for the first time in seven years.

※ Total: (2024) 3,784 units → (as of December 25, 2025) 6,903 units (+3,119 units, +182%) Passenger vehicles: (2024) 2,717 units → (as of December 25, 2025) 5,708 units (+2,991 units, +210%)

The MCEE will provide KRW 576.2 billion in government funding in 2026 to deploy a total of 7,820 hydrogen vehicles, including 1,800 hydrogen buses with long driving ranges and short refueling times (800 low-floor buses and 1,000 high-floor buses), 6,000 passenger vehicles, and 20 freight and sanitation vehicles.

※ Subsidy rates (unchanged): Passenger vehicles (KRW 22.5 million), low-floor buses (KRW 210 million), high-floor buses (KRW 260 million), freight vehicles (KRW 250 million), sanitation vehicles (KRW 720 million), and stack replacement (KRW 35 million)

In addition, the Ministry will accelerate the construction of hydrogen refueling stations to improve refueling convenience for hydrogen vehicles. Last year, 75 hydrogen refueling stations were built (bringing the cumulative total to 461 units across 268 sites), achieving the cumulative deployment target of 450 stations. In particular, 67 hydrogen refueling stations for commercial vehicles (50 liquid hydrogen stations and 17 specialized gaseous hydrogen stations) were intensively constructed, expanding the refueling infrastructure needed to promote the deployment of hydrogen buses.

To build more than 660 hydrogen refueling stations by 2030, the Ministry will provide KRW 189.7 billion in national funding this year, with the goal of reaching a cumulative total of over 500 stations. In particular, the Ministry plans to promote the deployment of hydrogen vehicles by launching a pilot project to install mobile hydrogen refueling stations* in regions where hydrogen vehicle adoption has been limited and refueling stations have not yet been established. 

* (Mobile hydrogen refueling stations) Facilities that enable hydrogen vehicles to be refueled at various locations by mounting equipment with hydrogen supply and storage functions on vehicles (refueling capacity of at least 25 kg/h, supported by KRW 1.75 billion in national funding).

The revised subsidy guidelines for hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen refueling stations are available on the Integrated Zero-Emission Vehicle Portal (www.ev.or.kr).

Seo Young-tae, Director General for Green Transition Policy Bureau at the MCEE, stated, “We are implementing this year’s hydrogen vehicle and hydrogen refueling station support programs at an early stage so that citizens wishing to purchase hydrogen vehicles can do so promptly and refueling convenience can be improved.” He added, “Going forward, we will continue our efforts to expand the hydrogen vehicle ecosystem by gathering input from local governments, businesses, and the private sector and putting in place support measures to further accelerate deployment.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com