The Korean government will expand the budget for EV safety next year, aiming to deploy 90,000 chargers with fire-prevention functions while also bolstering support for financially vulnerable demographics.
The plan was announced during a policy consultation meeting regarding next year’s government budget between the government and the People Power Party, aligned with President Yoon Suk Yeol, held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday.
“The government will strengthen its response system to address newly emerging disasters and crimes, such as EV fires,” said Choi Sang-mok, the minister of economy and finance, during the meeting.
The plan includes deploying 90,000 EV chargers equipped with fire-prevention measures and introducing additional firefighting equipment specialized for EV fires. The announcement came amid growing concerns over EV battery safety following a recent explosion of a Mercedes EV in an underground parking lot in Incheon, which damaged 140 cars in the garage.
Moreover, the maximum subsidies for EV purchases will be doubled to six million won ($4,510) for families with two or more children. The government also aims to add further benefits for multi-child households, including increasing the discount rate for public transportation fares to up to 50 percent.
