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The government is expected to lower the fuel tax on oil prices tomorrow (the 5th) while rising prices are a big burden.
Gasoline is expected to drop by about 80 won per liter, but diesel, which is often used in trucks, is not cut as much as expected, so the government is reviewing supplementary measures.
Correspondent Han Sang-woo.
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Drivers these days are looking for a gas station that is even a little cheaper.
[Park Seung-soo / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: I go over there, go to this place, and if there is (gasoline) cheap, I go and put it in.]
The average price of gasoline at gas stations nationwide has been staying around 2,000 won for almost 3 weeks.
As the price burden is high, the government is expected to introduce additional fuel tax cuts tomorrow.
From the already lowered 20%, it is to lower it by 10% to the maximum limit set by the law, which is an additional 82 won per liter of gasoline.
However, diesel, which was cheaper than gasoline, only reduced by 58 won.
The price difference between gasoline and diesel will also be narrowed from 80 won as of today.
[Kyung-jik Park / Truck driver: (even when lowered by 20%) It was not so much that I could feel it with my skin.
It was minor.
Diesel doesn't drop much compared to gasoline...
.]
More dissatisfied are truck drivers who receive fuel subsidies.
The oil price subsidy is a method of giving an amount minus 183 won from the current fuel tax, but as the fuel tax decreases, the subsidy decreases, so there is no benefit from this measure.
As it is essential to the industry and affects prices, we are demanding separate measures.
[Cho Gyeong-joon / truck driver: (rather than subsidy) The government should adjust the price of 1,800 won to 1,800 won and 1,700 won to 1,700 won.]
Taking this into consideration, the government will will also announce emergency measures, such as importing crude oil produced overseas.
(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, video editing: Jo Moo-hwan)