Questions rise over effectiveness of tightened driving rotation for public sector
A signboard at a police station in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, outlines the five-day driving rotation system that imposes restrictions on when public sector employees can use their vehicles, March 25. Yonhap
The government's plan to impose a stricter driving rotation system across the public sector, aimed at curbing fuel consumption amid rising energy prices, is drawing skepticism over its effectiveness, according to industry watchers Thursday.
Announced a day earlier, the measure will take effect next Wednesday and require public institutions to adopt a two-day rotation based on license plate numbers.
Vehicle use will be correspond to calendar date. Cars with plates ending in odd numbers will be barred on odd-numbered days, while those with even-numbered plates will be restricted on even-numbered days.
The policy will apply to around 11,000 public institutions — including central and local governments, state-run agencies, public schools and universities — and cover an estimated 1.3 million vehicles nationwide, officials said.
For the private sector, the government plans to implement indirect curbs by limiting access to around 30,000 public parking lots under a five-day rotation system based on the last digits of license plates.
The tightened rule on the public sector has prompted backlash from civil servants over concerns that it fails to account for gaps in public transportation infrastructure.
"I drop off my 9-year-old son at school before work every day. I don't know how I can manage that on days I’m not allowed to drive," said a central government official surnamed Bae.
A teacher in her 30s at a public elementary school in Gyeonggi Province surnamed Lee said, "It feels like the public sector employees are always the ones being asked to sacrifice."
The Korean Government Employees' Union called for a more cautious approach, warning that a blanket policy could create significant inconvenience in areas with limited public transportation.
"Implementing the system uniformly in areas with insufficient public transportation options could raise fairness concerns and cause significant inconvenience," the union said in a statement.
Questions are also being raised about the scale of energy savings.
The government estimates that applying the odd-even system to public sector vehicles could save up to 87,000 barrels of oil per month, while the five-day rotation at public parking facilities could reduce consumption by an additional 5,000 to 27,000 barrels.
Those figures appear small compared with the country's daily consumption of roughly 2.8 million barrels.
Addressing these concerns, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan said, "Even small savings matter," during a radio interview with MBC on Thursday.
"Limiting access to around 30,000 public parking facilities could also have a positive effect. As people experience inconvenience, it may encourage greater use of public transportation or even prompt a shift to electric vehicles," the minister said.