Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, KEPCO, and others begin construction of open-type and apartment-type charging stations
Construction begins on open-air charging station in Sangam-dong, Seoul, to open in October

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a groundbreaking ceremony for KEPCO's open charging station and announced a KEPCO-led 'plan to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure' worth a total of 200 billion won.

The construction plan includes installing 300 open-type charging stations, primarily fast chargers, at a total of 150 sites within the year, and establishing five large-scale flagship charging stations. For apartment-type charging stations, the plan is to install 30,000 slow chargers in approximately 4,000 complexes through a public bidding, evaluation, and selection process.

KEPCO to Install 150 Open Charging Stations Centered on Seoul and Jeju

In addition, it announced plans to purchase approximately 1,100 electric vehicles (worth 44 billion won) by 2023 from public power companies such as KEPCO and KHNP, and decided to provide intensive support for the early expansion of the domestic market for electric vehicles and key components (batteries). According to the support details, the area offering a 50% discount on the basic rate for electric vehicles will be expanded from the current Jeju to the entire country, and the application period for the discount rate scheme for energy storage systems (ESS) will be extended from the current one year to ten years.


▲ Open charging station.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, stated, "It is important to proactively expand charging facilities to make electric vehicles a key export industry, and an active role for the public sector is necessary for this." He added, "There is also a need to expand the domestic demand base to spread the electric vehicle market, and I expect that the purchase of electric vehicles by state-owned power companies will act as a catalyst."

In addition, Minister Ju emphasized collaboration among electric vehicle manufacturers, battery manufacturers, and charging service providers for the development of future technologies and the provision of innovative services.

KEPCO to Lead Charging Infrastructure Construction

Open charging stations are public fast-charging infrastructure available to all users, including ordinary citizens, electric taxis, and electric rental cars. A total of 300 units will be installed across the country at approximately 150 sites, centered on the Seoul and Jeju regions, which have large populations and high penetration of electric vehicles.

We plan to secure sites in locations easily accessible to citizens, such as public parking lots, multi-use facilities, and roadsides, in cooperation with stakeholders including local governments, distributors, and related organizations. The construction schedule involves installing approximately 180 units at a total of about 80 sites, including the Seoul Sangam Stadium, by October, and completing the remaining charging stations by November.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the open-type charging station in Sangam-dong, Seoul.

The plan is also to make it easier to find charging stations. In time for the opening in October, KEPCO will launch a comprehensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure system to provide information on the locations of charging stations. The system will include location data, reservation functions, route guidance, and usage analysis.

50% Discount on Basic Charging Fee Expanded Nationwide

Regarding usage fees, a rate plan will be established to support the expansion of electric vehicles and the revitalization of private charging businesses, taking into account factors such as electricity supply costs and consumer acceptance.

Flagship charging stations to be built in the central areas of major cities like Seoul are planned to be installed along main thoroughfares and in multi-use facilities, with the goal of starting construction within the year. These flagship stations also serve as an opportunity for EV-related companies from various sectors—including KEPCO, rental car companies, and retailers—to participate and test business models. They will provide not only charging functions but also comprehensive EV-related service packages.

Under the plan to distribute a total of 30,000 slow chargers to up to approximately 4,000 apartment complexes within the year, a public call for applications will be conducted for one month starting as early as the end of August. Following document reviews and on-site inspections, approximately 4,000 apartment complexes will be selected, and installation will begin around October. Notably, KEPCO will charge charging fees separately, distinct from the apartment's common area charges.