Over six in 10 Koreans prefer eco-friendly vehicles for future purchases

Electric vehicles charging in a parking lot. Yonhap

SEOUL, June 25 (AJU PRESS) – More than six out of 10 adults in South Korea intend to buy environmentally friendly cars, including hybrid or electric vehicles (EVs), when replacing their current car, a survey showed Tuesday.

The survey, conducted by OpenSurvey with 1,500 adults, found that 39.7 percent of respondents prioritize hybrid vehicles for their next purchase, while 24.1 percent favor EVs. Traditional gasoline vehicles were preferred by 26.7 percent, followed by diesel at 5.9 percent and LPG at 3.1 percent.

Age demographics show that hybrid vehicles are most popular among those in their 50s (37.3 percent) and 40s (31.3 percent), with only 8.6 percent of respondents in their 20s expressing interest.

Among those preferring EVs, 62.1 percent believe these vehicles contribute to environmental protection. However, perceptions of safety and ease of parking and charging remain low at 15.9 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively.

OpenSurvey noted while current EV ownership is below 5 percent, future purchase intent exceeding 20 percent is significant. The company suggests efforts are needed to improve public perception of EV safety and charging convenience.

Candice Kim candicekim1121@ajupress.com