Starting on the 3rd, the Seoul city government will accept applications for the "2026 early scrappage support," investing 33.8 billion won.
According to the Seoul city government on the 2nd, the early scrappage support program provides subsidies to induce scrapping of old vehicles with severe soot pollution. Seoul changed its method from taking applications in the first and second halves of the year to accepting them year-round starting this year.
This year, the city plans to roughly double the number of supported Grade 4 diesel vehicles compared to last year. Residents of the Green Transportation Zone who scrap a Grade 4 diesel vehicle with a gross vehicle weight under 3.5 tons early will also receive an additional subsidy of 1 million won.
Support for early scrappage of Grade 5 vehicles and installation of diesel particulate filters (DPF), which has continued since 2003, will end this year.
Eligible applicants are vehicles whose place of use on the vehicle registration record is in Seoul as of the application date and that have been continuously registered in the air quality control zone for at least six months, including Grade 4 diesel vehicles, Grade 5 in-use vehicles (including gasoline and LPG vehicles), and construction machinery.
The application period runs through Oct. 16. Only one vehicle per person is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications can be submitted via the Integrated Vehicle Emissions Information System website or by registered mail. If the budget is exhausted, the program may close early.
Subsidies are paid on a sliding scale based on the Insurance Development Institute's standard values. Grade 4 diesel vehicles under 3.5 tons gross vehicle weight can receive up to 8 million won.
Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, "As this year is the final year of support for Grade 5 vehicles, citizens who own eligible vehicles should be sure to apply within the period," adding, "We ask for your active participation for a cleaner Seoul."