Busan to add 1,520 electric vehicles to subsidy program
Version 2: A second business outlet and a follow-up official report added the reasons cited for the demand surge, high oil prices and the impact of the Middle East war, along with the July allocation that closed early, the doubling of applications from last year, and comments from a city official.
In short
Busan city said it will add 1,520 electric vehicles to its private EV distribution program, funded by 3.2 billion won in city money from a supplementary budget and 10.3 billion won in national funds, 13.5 billion won in total. The addition is 1,300 electric passenger cars and 220 electric cargo trucks, with cargo applications opening Oct 7 and passenger applications Oct 14. The city said applications this year more than doubled from last year as demand ran through its July allocation early.
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Busan city will add 1,520 electric vehicles to its private electric vehicle distribution program, the city said on Oct 6, proceeding with an additional round of supply under the 2026 program. The city said the expansion uses 3.2 billion won in city funds secured through a supplementary budget and 10.3 billion won in national funds, 13.5 billion won in total. The additional allocation is 1,300 electric passenger cars and 220 electric cargo trucks. [ 1 , 4 ]
Applications for the electric cargo trucks open on Oct 7 and for the electric passenger cars on Oct 14, the city said. Busan city said it will reinforce staff to reduce inconvenience during the application process, and it asked applicants to check their forms carefully so that corrections or supplements are not needed, and to apply outside peak periods. Moon Jung-ju, head of the city's climate and environment bureau, said the additional second-half supply would be “a good opportunity” for residents considering a switch to electric vehicles and that the city would minimise inconvenience from concentrated applications. [ 1 , 4 ]
Asia Economy reported that the city allocated 2,790 electric passenger cars and 471 electric cargo trucks as its second-half supply in July, and that the allocations closed early the same month as applications concentrated. Applications this year were more than double last year's level, according to the report, which said the city attributed the demand to international oil price movements, relatively low running costs and growing interest in the environment. A later Yonhap report said demand for electric vehicles surged this year on the impact of the Middle East war, and that the city set a supplementary budget for the second half after its first-half round. [ 3 , 4 ]
Asia Economy named Jeon Jae-soo as Busan mayor. Newsis reported the 1,520-vehicle figure at 08:56, matching the city's number, but the article text supplied with that report concerned a police investigation into hacking at financial firms rather than the Busan program, so its program coverage rests on the headline. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The measure is a municipal subsidy program, so its direct effect falls on Busan residents deciding whether to buy an electric car or truck. The use of a supplementary budget, and the fact that the city's July allocation closed early, indicates demand outran the amount the city had planned for the year.
Key facts
- Busan city will add 1,520 electric vehicles to its private EV distribution program [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The additional allocation is 1,300 electric passenger cars and 220 electric cargo trucks [ 1 , 4 ]
- The city said the expansion uses 3.2 billion won in city funds from a supplementary budget and 10.3 billion won in national funds, 13.5 billion won in total [ 1 , 4 ]
- Electric cargo truck applications open Oct 7 and electric passenger car applications open Oct 14 [ 1 , 4 ]
- Busan city announced the additional supply on Oct 6 [ 1 , 4 ]
- The city allotted 2,790 electric passenger cars and 471 electric cargo trucks for the second half in July, and the allocations closed early the same month [ 4 ]
- Applications this year were more than double last year's level, the city said [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reported that EV demand surged on the impact of this year's Middle East war and high oil prices [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Busan city will add 1,520 electric vehicles to its private EV distribution program [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The additional allocation consists of 1,300 electric passenger cars and 220 electric cargo trucks [ 1 , 4 ]
- The city said the expansion is funded by 3.2 billion won in city funds from a supplementary budget and 10.3 billion won in national funds, or 13.5 billion won in total [ 1 , 4 ]
- Applications for electric cargo trucks open Oct 7 and for electric passenger cars Oct 14 [ 1 , 4 ]
- Busan city announced the additional supply plan on Oct 6 [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether applications for the 1,520 vehicles will again close early Asia Economy reported that applications could concentrate in a short period, but no outlet states a closing date or how long the window will stay open.
- Whether Newsis's report contains detail beyond its headline The article text supplied with the Newsis report concerns a police investigation into hacking at financial firms, not the Busan EV program, so that outlet's program coverage rests on its headline alone.
- The exact eligibility and selection rules for applicants The reports give vehicle numbers and application dates but do not describe who qualifies or how applicants are chosen.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Busan city announced the additional 1,520-vehicle EV supply plan in its daily briefing, as reported by Yonhap [ 1 ]
- Newsis reported that Busan would supply 1,520 additional electric vehicles [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reported that EV demand had surged on high oil prices and the impact of the Middle East war, prompting the city to set a supplementary budget [ 3 ]
- Asia Economy reported the new round of subsidies, the July allocation that closed early and the city's plans to add staff for applications [ 4 ]