Gangwon Province to Distribute Record 7,838 Electric Vehicles in 2026

82% Surge in Supply Volume Compared to Last Year’s 4,305 Vehicles
Up to 1.3 Million KRW Benefit for Purchasing After Scrapping or Selling Internal Combustion Vehicles

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced on January 28 that it will invest 63.8 billion KRW in 2026 to distribute 7,838 electric vehicles as part of its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality and create a clean air environment.

Exterior view of Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

This year’s distribution target of 7,838 vehicles represents an 82% increase compared to last year’s performance of 4,305 vehicles. By vehicle type, the province plans to supply 6,434 passenger cars, 1,349 trucks, 37 personal vans, and 18 children’s school buses.

The purchase subsidies, which vary by vehicle type and performance, will provide up to 8.7 million KRW for electric passenger cars, up to 14.7 million KRW for small electric trucks, up to 52 million KRW for medium trucks, up to 78 million KRW for large trucks, up to 27 million KRW for newly introduced small electric vans, and up to 54 million KRW for small electric vehicles for children’s transportation. Additional support for first-time car buyers, multi-child families, and farmers will remain at last year’s levels.

The newly introduced transition support grant this year will provide up to 1.3 million KRW in additional support to individuals who sell or scrap their internal combustion engine vehicles and purchase an electric vehicle (passenger or truck).

Applications for electric vehicle subsidies will be accepted by city and county offices starting in early February. Detailed information on the application process can be found on the Zero Emission Vehicle Integrated Website or through announcements on city and county websites. In addition, from this year, the supply program for electric vans for corporations and individual business owners will be managed by the Korea Environment Corporation.

Last year, the province distributed 4,305 electric vehicles, bringing the cumulative total to over 25,000. The province’s electric vehicle penetration rate (electric vehicles/total registered vehicles) stands at 2.8%, an increase of 0.4% compared to 2024, and continues to rise each year.

Governor Kim Jin-tae stated, "We will further promote the distribution of electric vehicles to take the lead in achieving carbon neutrality," adding, "We are implementing the electric vehicle supply program to provide residents with a pleasant environment through improved air quality and carbon reduction, and we ask for the active interest of all residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.