Gov't to install 90,000 fire-prevention EV chargers, boost safety budget

The government will expand the budget for EV safety next year, aiming to deploy 90,000 chargers with fire-prevention functions while also bolstering support for financially vulnerable demographics.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, right, shakes hands with People Power Party floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho during a policy consultation meeting held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The government aims to expand the budget for EV safety next year with a goal of deploying 90,000 chargers with fire-prevention functions. Welfare packages for financially vulnerable demographics will be bolstered as well.

The government and the People Power Party (PPP), which is aligned with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, agreed on the agendas as part of next year's broader budget plan during a policy consultation meeting held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday.

“The government will strengthen its response system to address newly emerging disasters and crimes, such as EV fires,” said Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok during the meeting. PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho and policy chief Rep. Kim Sang-hoon were also in attendance.

The plan includes deploying a maximum of 90,000 EV chargers equipped with fire-prevention measures and introducing additional firefighting equipment specialized for EV fires.

The announcement came amid growing concerns over EV battery safety following the recent explosion of a Mercedes EV in an underground parking lot in Incheon, which damaged 140 nearby cars.

The government and PPP agreed on four major themes of next year’s budget plan: bolstering welfare for socially vulnerable populations, enhancing economic vitality, implementing fundamental improvements for a better future and strengthening safety and security.

“The standard median income will be raised by a record scale for a third year in a row for the most vulnerable populations within our society,” said Choi. As the standard median income is a threshold used in determining the income level eligible for welfare programs, raising the figure will grant more people access to government support.

The plans announced on Tuesday include a significant increase to the maximum subsidies for EV purchases to six million won ($4,510) — double the current level — for families with two or more children. The government also aims to add additional benefits for multichild households, including discounting for public transportation fares by up to 50 percent.

The government fund dedicated to mitigating the debt of self-employed people and small business owners will expand from its current 30 trillion won to more than 40 trillion won. The number of Onnuri gift certificates, which can be used instead of cash at traditional markets, issued next year will be upped to a record of 5.5 trillion won.

Updated, Aug. 20 : Added details about the budget plan agreed on by the government and the People Power Party and a new photo.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]