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thrifty gas station with a slightly cheaper gas price was first established in Korea 10 years ago in order to relieve the burden on consumers. However, recently, other gas stations protested that it was unfair that only thrifty gas stations were supplied with cheap oil.



More details will be provided by reporter Han Sang-woo.



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is a thrifty gas station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.



Gasoline per liter is 70 won cheaper than nearby gas stations, and 35 won cheaper than the national average of 1,564 won.



There are about 1,200 such thrifty gas stations nationwide, or 10.8% of all gas stations.



The price of getting fuel is slightly cheaper, and it is sold cheaply by eliminating various card discounts, car washes, and gifts.



[Shin Young-mo / Gangseo-gu, Seoul: It is good if it is cheap. Instead, there will be no such thing. There is no such thing as a gas card discount. I think that's better though.]



However, general gas stations are protesting, saying it is discriminatory and unfair competition.



Refiners supply oil to thrifty gas stations up to 100 won per liter through the Korea National Oil Corporation, but drivers are sensitive to the difference between 10 won and 20 won, so there is no competition.



The Korea Gas Station Association, which has over 11,000 general gas stations as members, has announced that it will file a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission.



[Korea Gas Station Association official: To ask if there are any unfair acts against refiners who supply thrifty gas stations... .]



The growing sense of crisis is also the background of the tough response, with more than 200 gas stations shutting down every year due to the expansion of eco-friendly vehicles.



Controversy continues as the thrifty gas station, which was introduced 10 years ago in the era of high oil prices, needs to be reexamined due to excessive market intervention by the government, and the rebuttal that it benefits consumers and has a positive function of stabilizing prices amid growing inflationary pressures is expected to be.



(Video coverage: Kim Hak-mo, video editing: So Ji-hye)