KT Linkus-Ministry of Environment "Electric Vehicle Rapid Charging Project Launched" Nationwide 9 Locations in Operation
Charging an electric vehicle takes 25 minutes, about 10% of the charging time compared to existing slow chargers

KT Linkus (CEO Lee Kang-geun) and the Ministry of Environment (Minister Yoon Sung-kyu) will begin a rapid electric vehicle charging project using roadside public telephone booths to expand the distribution of electric vehicles.

KT Linkus announced that starting on the 15th (Friday), it will install nine electric vehicle rapid chargers in public telephone booths in Seoul, Seongnam, Daegu, and Suncheon in cooperation with the Korea Environment Corporation under the Ministry of Environment and provide rapid charging services.

The cost of using the rapid charger installed in the public phone booth is 313.1 won per 1 kilowatt hour (1 kWh), and it takes about 25 to 30 minutes to fully charge an electric vehicle. The biggest advantage is that the charging time for electric vehicles, which was pointed out as the biggest obstacle to the spread of electric vehicles, has been shortened to about 10% of the existing slow charger charging time (4 to 6 hours). Another feature is that it enhances accessibility and convenience for electric vehicle users by utilizing public phone booths located on the roadside.


Currently, the Ministry of Environment is operating 5,405 slow chargers and 337 rapid chargers for electric vehicle charging stations in major locations and highway rest areas across the country. KT Linkus and the Ministry of Environment plan to actively utilize public phone booths installed throughout the country (30,000 locations, 69,000 units as of 2015) and expand the installation of chargers in public phone booths by 20 locations every year.

Meanwhile, KT Linkus has been operating electric vehicle charging stations (slow chargers) in public telephone booths in three areas of Seoul since February 2015 in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Hancar (a car sharing company). KT Linkus plans to continue to cooperate with the government, local governments, automobile and rental companies to promote the spread of electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations.

KT Linkus Public Phone Business Division Director Lee Hong-joo said, “We are providing national convenience services such as ATMs, defibrillators, safe zones, and electric vehicle charging stations by utilizing public phone booths across the country,” and “We will continue to work to expand various convenient services as well as revitalize the domestic electric vehicle market by expanding electric vehicle charging stations.”