Sejong, July 4 - The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that the "Expansion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Measures for Safety Enhancement" has been finalized. The announcement was made during the 25th Government Affairs Ministers' Meeting held on June 29.

This plan was jointly developed by relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the National Fire Agency. The key focus is on expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and fire prevention and response.

The government has set a goal of supplying over 1.23 million charging stations by 2030 in preparation for the widespread adoption of 4.2 million electric vehicles by the same year. To meet this objective, slow chargers will be set up in residential areas and other everyday locations. At the same time, there will be a concentrated installation of fast chargers at highway rest areas and other transportation hubs.

※ As of the end of May 2023, there are 240,000 EV charging stations in the country (25,000 fast chargers, 215,000 slow chargers).

In older apartments where there is a lack of electrical capacity for installing charging stations, power distribution-type chargers¹ will be provided. New technologies such as mobile and wireless chargers will be supplied in areas with increased charging demand. Additionally, certain regulations that hinder the distribution of chargers² will be improved.

Efforts will be made to minimize charger malfunctions by distributing reliable chargers and operating complaint centers. There will be more widespread payment information roaming between charging service providers, allowing users to access all chargers with a single membership card. Additionally, a mobile membership card and wallet app will be developed within this year to facilitate convenient payment through smartphones.

Furthermore, in order to transition the electric vehicle charging market to become led by the private sector, public rapid chargers (approximately 7,000) will be gradually sold and transferred to private entities. The transferred chargers will maintain their public accessibility for a certain period. The government will strengthen exports by providing customized support for companies based on their stages of growth.

To ensure that only electric vehicles equipped with safe batteries are released in the market, two systems will be introduced: a battery safety certification and post-inspection system and a battery history management system. To prevent fires in charging facilities, the scope of regular inspections will be expanded to include charging devices and accessories. Providing additional subsidies for electric vehicles and chargers with excellent safety performance will also be considered.

To respond quickly to fires, firefighting methods and equipment tailored to the characteristics of electric vehicles will be developed and enhanced. Battery status and charging history information necessary for electric vehicle fire response will be collected and analyzed to prevent accidents.

In addition, with the training program for the installation and management of charging facilities, more than 100 experts will be trained annually. To ensure effective implementation, cooperation and communication among relevant organizations will be strengthened. Minister Han Wha-jin of the Ministry of Environment stated, "This plan resolves the inconvenience of electric vehicle charging and prevents fire accidents." She added, "It will greatly contribute to the popularization of electric vehicles and achieving carbon neutrality."

¹ Without separately increasing the number of power facilities, the charging station will autonomously adjust power requirement for charging based on the building’s electricity usage when demand is low.

² Example: When charging facilities are remotely monitored, the limit regarding electrical safety manager will be eased. Previously, one manager was required for every 60 charging stations. With the implementation of remote monitoring, only one manager will be needed for every 120 stations.

Contact: Kim Kyung-mi, Senior Deputy Director

Air Quality Future Strategy Division / +82-(0)44-201-6897