South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has announced a ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the electrification of police vehicles and the launch of a pilot project for eco-friendly police stations at Seoul Gangnam Police Station (located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul) held on the morning of 30 July, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and the Korea National Police Agency (KNPA).
All newly purchased and leased police vehicles to transition to electric and hydrogen models by 2035
The event was organised to accelerate the transition of the nation’s approximately 17 600 police vehicles to electric and hydrogen-powered models and to establish an interagency framework for cooperation.
As of the end of June 2026, 2185 of the nation’s police vehicles were electric or hydrogen-powered, representing an electrification rate of approximately 12.4%.
The KNPA purchases or leases an average of approximately 1908 new vehicles each year. Its goal is that, by 2035, all newly purchased and leased vehicles will, in principle, be electric or hydrogen-powered, with the exception of certain specialised vehicles.
Advanced patrol vehicles to strengthen frontline response
Electric vehicles are expected to significantly enhance police officers’ frontline response capabilities thanks to their superior acceleration and quiet operation. Over the longer term, as patrol vehicles evolve to incorporate features such as customised driving modes and advanced safety technologies, the quality of policing services experienced by the public is also expected to improve substantially.
The MCEE, MOIS, and KNPA will designate and operate Seoul Gangnam Police Station as the nation’s first eco-friendly police station to increase frontline acceptance of the transition to electric police vehicles. Specifically, the 22 internal combustion engine vehicles currently operated by precincts and police substations under Seoul Gangnam Police Station will be replaced with electric vehicles, while nine 200-kW fast chargers will be installed across six precincts and police substations to provide rapid charging services.
Accelerating public sector fleet electrification while expanding large scale demand
The MCEE plans to work with the KNPA to expand this pilot initiative to police stations in other regions. It also intends to broaden the programme to include public institutions and the private sector, continuously identifying large scale demand for the transition to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The MOIS will support the early realisation of public-sector fleet electrification by encouraging agencies with large vehicle fleets to accelerate the transition. It will also systematically manage and monitor each agency’s transition plan to strengthen policy implementation.
Minister Kim Sungwhan said: “Transitioning police vehicles to electric and hydrogen-powered models demonstrates that our police are taking the lead in advancing the nation’s carbon neutrality goals. We will spare no administrative or financial support to ensure that the public sector’s transition to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles serves as a catalyst for accelerating the electrification of all forms of transportation across the country.”
Minister Yun Hojung commented: “Responding to the climate crisis and advancing a sustainable energy transition are urgent priorities that the entire public sector must lead by example. Building on this MoU, the MOIS will work closely with relevant ministries to accelerate the transition of official vehicles used by central government agencies to electric vehicles.”
Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jae-seong added, “The designation of this eco-friendly police station will serve as a model case that allows the public to see the government’s environmental policies in action. We will move swiftly to identify and establish a second and third eco-friendly police station as soon as possible.”