South Korea’s Ministry of Environment is seriously considering the possibility of banning the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2035 to meet the country’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. Such a move could align South Korea with the climate policies of other global regions, such as the European Union.
South Korea May Ban Internal Combustion Vehicles
The Ministry states that limiting the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles could play a critical role in the country’s achievement of its national greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2035.
These targets are based on nationally determined contributions, which countries develop under the Paris Agreement and must update every five years. South Korea is also preparing to announce new targets ahead of the next UN Climate Change Conference in November 2025.
South Korea’s transportation sector has so far been limited in emissions reductions. Only a 1.2 percent decrease was achieved between 2018 and 2024. In contrast, there are currently approximately 850,000 zero-emission vehicles on the road. Due to this situation, the government is considering additional support such as tax incentives, in addition to the idea of banning the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles.
The Ministry of Environment presented four different scenarios that could be achieved by 2035. These scenarios project greenhouse gas emissions to decrease by 48, 53, 61, and 65 percent. For example, to achieve the 48 percent reduction target, transportation emissions would need to decrease from 98.8 million tons in 2018 to 44.3 million tons. The most ambitious target of 65 percent would require this figure to fall to 32.6 million tons.
This development coincides with intensified discussions surrounding the European Union’s internal combustion engine ban, which is set to take effect in 2035. Last September, German automakers met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to request the withdrawal of the ban and the relaxation of electric vehicle sales quotas by 2035.
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