The government has identified 23 private vehicle inspection stations across the country that engaged in illegal practices, including failing to record inspection scenes. While the number of violating stations remained the same compared to the previous quarter, the number of serious violations has decreased.
The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments, conducted a special joint inspection of 201 private vehicle inspection stations over three weeks starting in June. The findings were announced on August 13.
The inspections targeted stations with unusually low failure rates or a high proportion of inspections for commercial vehicles, as well as those with frequent complaints about poor practices.
Among the major violations, poor record-keeping of inspection scenes accounted for six cases (26.1%), while five cases (21.7%) involved partial omissions of inspections. Additionally, three cases (13%) did not meet facility and equipment standards, and nine cases (39.1%) fell into other categories.
In terms of administrative actions, there were 10 business suspensions and 13 cases of fines and administrative guidance. This marks a decrease of 13 business suspensions compared to the second half of last year, which had 23 cases.
During the inspections, one station was found to have illegally modified its emissions measurement equipment. Such equipment must undergo strict formal approval to ensure reliability, and any changes to critical components require prior approval.
The identified inspection stations will face local corrective actions or business suspensions ranging from a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 30 days, depending on the severity of the violations. Additionally, seven technical personnel involved in the illegal activities will face suspension from their duties.
Kim Jin-sik, Director of the Air Quality Division at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Through continuous joint inspections by the government and local authorities, serious violations have decreased compared to the second half of last year. We will continue to work closely with relevant agencies to establish proper vehicle inspection standards and ensure public safety and environmental protection."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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