Is South Korea Ready for a 100% Electric Vehicle Future? Insights from President Lee Jae-myung

President Lee Jae-myung expressed deep concern over the global energy supply crisis.

On the 30th, he attended the \”Listening to Jeju’s Heart\” town-hall meeting at the Halla Convention Center on Halla University’s Jeju campus.

There, he said, \”There is turmoil worldwide over energy issues, and the situation is so severe it keeps me awake. We must transition to renewable energy very quickly.\”

Citing tensions in the Middle East as a driver of the energy crisis, he said, \”The situation is worse than people think. It will become even more unstable in the near term and going forward.\”

He urged authorities to accelerate the rollout of zero-emission vehicles. Pointing to the government’s goal of converting 100% of rental cars in Jeju to electric vehicles, he said, \”We must implement these policies boldly and quickly.\”

He criticized the current pace, saying, \”This is an emergency, but the transition is moving too slowly.\”

The proposal to build an undersea tunnel linking Jeju to the mainland was also discussed.

After hearing attendees’ views, he said, \”There are far more opposing opinions, and I share that view.\”

He added that caution is warranted and that the island’s identity is what makes Jeju unique, effectively signaling his opposition to the undersea tunnel.

On the closely contested plan to build Jeju’s second airport, he deferred an immediate decision, saying, \”Neither side appears to have a decisive majority, so I ask you to make a careful judgment.\”

Marking his 300th day in office, the president concluded the regional town-hall tour with the Jeju stop. He began the tour in Gwangju on June 25, 2024, and visited a total of 12 metropolitan cities and provinces to engage with citizens.

The Blue House said it will continue to engage the public through new approaches, such as issue-focused communication rather than region-based meetings.

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