South Korea’s Ministry of Climate-Energy-Environment (MCE) initiated a special inspection of electric and hydrogen vehicle charging facilities nationwide on Thursday, February 12, 2026, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, commonly known as Seollal. The move aims to preemptively address potential charging difficulties for travelers utilizing these vehicles during the peak holiday period.
The MCE, led by Minister Kim Seong-hwan, announced the measures to ensure the safety and convenience of charging infrastructure, and to establish a rapid response system for malfunctions or congestion. According to the ministry, the inspection will focus on high-traffic areas, particularly highway rest stops.
Second Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyun of the MCE personally inspected charging facilities at the Yongin rest stop on the Yeongdong Expressway, in the direction of Incheon, on Thursday. During the visit, he convened a meeting with charging service providers to address industry concerns and emphasize the importance of stable operations throughout the holiday. Participants in the inspection included representatives from Korea Road Corporation, Korea Electric Safety Corporation, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, the Korea Automobile Environmental Association, and various charging companies.
To supplement existing infrastructure, the MCE will deploy 38 mobile charging units to 17 highway rest stops between February 13th and February 18th. These mobile units will provide up to 20kW of power – sufficient for approximately 100km of driving range – free of charge to electric vehicle drivers experiencing charging gaps during their journeys.
A concentrated operational status check of 549 charging stations at 167 highway rest stops across the country began on February 2nd and will continue through February 18th. Emergency repair teams are on standby to address any reported issues promptly. The ministry has not yet released details on the specific types of malfunctions anticipated, or the number of personnel dedicated to the emergency response.
The MCE stated that the inspection and support measures are intended to alleviate concerns about charging availability during the Seollal holiday, a period of significant domestic travel. The ministry has not indicated whether similar measures will be implemented for future peak travel periods.
