Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Volkswagen Korea to offer apology to local customers
By Park Jin-hai
Volkswagen Korea said Wednesday it will offer a belated apology to its customers in Korea.
The official apology, scheduled to be announced on early Thursday, came 21 days after the German carmaker was found to have rigged software to falsify data during emission tests of its diesel vehicles.
Volkswagen Korea will post a letter of apology on its website and send it to 92,000 customers who purchased the models thought to have been used during the scam. It will also recall those vehicles, although the details will be arranged after consultation with the Environment Ministry and its parent group.
The company acknowledged that in its Oct. 1 website posting, saying that it is doing its best to find a way to resolve the issue, when revealing the number of EA189 engine models thought to have rigged software. However, this was short of offering an official apology.
People still question whether Volkswagen has the will to correct its wrongdoings in earnest.
Lee In-young, a lawmaker of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said that the company’s service on its website, where customers can check whether their car is affected, is ineffective. “It only tells the vehicle models with EA189 engine type. However, all EA189 powered cars imported here are Euro 5 emission standards cars, without the manipulated lean-NOx trap (LNT),” he said.
“The Volkswagen cars with LNT here are Euro 6 emission standard-meeting EA228 diesel engines. If the Volkswagen Korea really wanted to give relevant information to its customers, they should make customers check whether their cars are powered with EA288 engine as well, not limited to EA189 types.”
Lee claims that as the problem becomes beyond its control, the carmaker has tried to scale down the problem by revealing information not relevant to local customers.
The company remains cautious on the issue, saying that while the investigation into the allegation that the LNT has been manipulated has not yet been concluded, it is hard to make a move.
Audi, affiliated with the Volkswagen Group, is also set to apologize on Thursday to 28,719 Korean customers who purchased faulty vehicles. But details, including whether the Audi vehicles will be recalled, were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, a growing number of people plan to file compensation suits against Volkswagen in Korea over emissions cheating, with those joining a class action likely to top 10,000.