SEJONG — As prolonged conflict in the Middle East continues to destabilize global energy supplies, the South Korean government has announced a significant escalation in energy conservation measures. Starting April 8, all public institutions will shift to a strict "Odd-Even" vehicle rotation system (2-day rotation), a move aimed at drastically curbing fuel consumption amid a worsening energy security crisis.

On April 1, Oh Il-young, Deputy Minister for Climate and Energy Policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment (MCEE), held a briefing at the Sejong Government Complex. He announced that the national energy crisis level will be raised to "Alert" (Gyeonggye) effective April 2, triggering more aggressive demand-side management.

From 5-Day to Odd-Even Rotation
The current 5-day rotation system for public sector vehicles, which has been in place since late last month, will officially transition to a 2-day rotation. Under this "Odd-Even" rule:

Odd-numbered dates: Only vehicles with license plates ending in an odd digit can operate.
Even-numbered dates: Only vehicles with license plates ending in an even digit can operate.
This measure is reminiscent of the emergency reduction measures for fine dust implemented in the Seoul metropolitan area and South Chungcheong Province last March, but it is now being deployed nationwide as a response to resource security.

Scope and Enforcement: The "Three-Strikes" Rule
The mandate covers approximately 11,000 entities, including central administrative agencies, local governments, public corporations, and national/public schools (K-12).

The 2-day rotation primarily applies to employees’ personal vehicles and official government vehicles. Visitors to public institutions will remain under the 5-day rotation system. However, specific exemptions will be granted for:

Vehicles for the disabled or pregnant women.
Eco-friendly vehicles (Electric and Hydrogen).

Commuters from regions with poor public transit or those working non-standard hours.
To ensure compliance, the government is introducing a "Three-Strikes" disciplinary system. Previously, disciplinary action was taken after the fourth violation. Under the new rules:

1st Violation: Verbal warning.
2nd Violation: Formal report to the head of the institution and parking access restrictions.
3rd Violation: Official disciplinary proceedings.
To prevent "evasive parking"—where employees park in nearby alleys or private lots to avoid detection—authorities will conduct at least one daily patrol of areas surrounding government buildings.

Public Parking Lots to Limit Access
In a parallel move, approximately 30,000 public parking lots (on-street and off-street) managed by local governments and public agencies will implement a 5-day rotation system.

Under this system, vehicles are restricted from parking one day a week based on the final digit of their license plate (e.g., plates ending in 1 or 6 are restricted on Mondays). This applies during standard operating hours, though 24-hour automated lots will begin enforcement at midnight on April 8.

Exceptions will be made for essential services, including emergency vehicles (police, fire, medical) and vehicles serving vulnerable populations. Heads of local agencies also have the discretion to exempt parking lots near traditional markets or tourist attractions to prevent localized economic damage.

Expected Economic Impact and Private Sector Outlook
The shift to an Odd-Even system is expected to yield significant energy savings. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a 5-day rotation typically reduces passenger vehicle fuel consumption by 1% to 5%.

The Korean government estimates that the 5-day system for 1.3 million public sector vehicles saves between 7,000 and 35,000 barrels of fuel per month. By moving to the 2-day rotation—which increases restricted days by 2.5 times—the government anticipates savings of 17,000 to 87,000 barrels per month. This is equivalent to the fuel required to fill 50,000 to 260,000 passenger cars to capacity.

While the public sector is under a mandate, the private sector remains on a voluntary basis.

"We are carefully monitoring the energy supply situation, public inconvenience, and the impact on the economy before considering a mandatory transition for the private sector," said Oh Il-young.
The MCEE will distribute detailed guidelines to all public institutions on April 2, while simultaneously encouraging flexible work arrangements and video conferencing to reduce the overall need for travel.

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