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As domestic oil prices hit new highs, the government has decided to expand the range of fuel tax cuts as the last card that can be done without amendment of the law.



It seems to be announced today (19th) at the earliest, but reporter Jae Hee-won reports how much oil prices are going down.



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Cars come in with tails at thrifty gas stations to see if they can save even a little.



As the price of oil changed the highest price every day, gasoline followed by diesel also exceeded the national average of 2,100 won per liter.



[Park Jung-wook / Gangdong-gu, Seoul: I don't know how long it will go up, but I think it would be cheaper to refuel quickly if possible.

In March, it cost about 150,000 won (gas cost), but now I think I'll spend between 200,000 won and 250,000 won.]



Last month, the fuel tax cut was expanded to 30%, but the effect of the cut has long since disappeared.



[Driver: They said they got off, but as you can see now, it is over 2,000 won.

(The effect of the fuel tax cut is not real.]



As it was predicted that it could be 2,300 or 400 won per liter, the government decided to apply the maximum limit for the fuel tax cut that the government had as the last card.



Among the fuel taxes, the transportation tax currently has a flexible tax rate that is slightly higher than the statutory tax rate. If this flexible tax rate is lowered, the actual reduction can be increased from the current 30% to 37%.



If this happens, the price of gasoline will drop by 57 won and diesel by 38 won per liter.



We are also considering extending the fuel tax cut, which ends in July, until the end of the year.



[Cho Sang-beom / Director of External Relations, Korea Petroleum Association: It is to lower the maximum limit that can be lowered within the current legal system.

It will be difficult to drop significantly from now, but it is clear that we can benefit from the amount equivalent to the cut.]



The government is planning to announce this at the first emergency economy ministers meeting, but the cut is not large, so additional measures Unless this comes out, there are many prospects that there will be limits in catching oil prices.