It seems necessary to consult with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to set standards on whether it is more effective for a management office to operate electric-vehicle chargers directly after an apartment is sold or to outsource the operation. EV charging fees also need to be broken down with different cost-based criteria, and at least a basic set of guidelines should be prepared.
Minister Kim Seong-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said at a meeting on Apr. 16 at Government Complex Seoul, titled "Roundtable to improve installation and operation systems for EV charging facilities in multiunit housing," that "there have been complaints that EV charging fees have risen rapidly lately," signaling changes to the EV charger fee structure and the way subsidies are run.
EV adoption is increasing in Korea. The Minister said, "About 200,000 electric and hydrogen vehicles were supplied last year, and there is a strong chance the number will rise to 300,000 this year," adding, "Demand for EVs is increasing due to the effect of subsidies and falling prices." The cumulative number of EVs in Korea has surpassed 900,000.
To sustain the government's push to expand EV adoption, more EV chargers need to be installed. About 470,000 EV chargers are currently installed nationwide. However, fees for chargers installed in apartments have recently been raised, leading even to public petitions, and the issue has emerged as a social problem.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will overhaul the EV charging fee structure from the current two tiers (100 kWh or more, 100 kWh or less) to five tiers: under 30 kWh, 30–50 kWh, 50–100 kWh, 100–200 kWh, and 200 kWh or more. The Minister said, "There is a problem in that fees are applied under the same criteria even though cost bases differ," adding, "We will establish reasonable standards by charging type."
The ministry also plans to revise the subsidy policy for installing EV chargers. It is reviewing a plan to pay installation subsidies to apartments, whereas currently subsidies are paid only to charging operators.
The Minister said, "Payments of subsidies are unavoidable, so we need to assess the appropriateness of those payments," adding, "If an apartment explicitly indicates it will operate chargers directly, paying subsidies in that case is one option. We will study ways to ensure subsidies are used efficiently."
In addition, the Minister said the ministry will consult with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the minimum specifications and the management entity for EV chargers installed when building new apartments. The Minister said, "In consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we will ensure that minimum technical specifications can serve as standards from the initial installation stage," adding, "Right after new apartments are built, the management office manages the chargers, and we will also set standards on whether to outsource management or manage directly."