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"Obvious State-Managed Privilege": Nationwide Gas Station Industry Rebukes Government's Fuel Price Reduction Policy

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(Seoul=NEWS1) Reporter Park Se-yeon = On the 18th, citizens are refueling at a gas station located at the Meeting Plaza Rest Area on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol held an emergency economic headquarters meeting and Gyeong Je-gwan-gye (Minister) meeting at the government complex in Sejong today, announcing that fuel prices will be reduced by 100 won per liter at 226 government-managed expressway gas stations operated by Korea Expressway Corporation during the Chuseok holiday period. He also stated, "The fuel tax reduction measure scheduled to end at the end of this month will be extended for an additional two months until the end of November to alleviate the burden of fuel costs on citizens." 2026.9.18/NEWS1 Copyright © NEWS1. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited. /Photo=NEWS1) Reporter Park Se-yeon
(Seoul=NEWS1) Reporter Park Se-yeon = On the 18th, citizens are refueling at a gas station located at the Meeting Plaza Rest Area on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol held an emergency economic headquarters meeting and Gyeong Je-gwan-gye (Minister) meeting at the government complex in Sejong today, announcing that fuel prices will be reduced by 100 won per liter at 226 government-managed expressway gas stations operated by Korea Expressway Corporation during the Chuseok holiday period. He also stated, "The fuel tax reduction measure scheduled to end at the end of this month will be extended for an additional two months until the end of November to alleviate the burden of fuel costs on citizens." 2026.9.18/NEWS1 Copyright © NEWS1. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited. /Photo=NEWS1) Reporter Park Se-yeon

While the government announced a reduction of 100 won per liter in fuel prices at expressway gas stations during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, the petroleum distribution industry and the Gas Station Association immediately voiced strong opposition, calling for the policy to be withdrawn.They argue that this constitutes state-managed privilege administration that concentrates benefits on specific gas stations, disrupting the private market and undermining fair competition.

According to government ministries, from the 24th to the 27th over a four-day period, gasoline and diesel prices at 226 national expressway gas stations managed by Korea Expressway Corporation will be reduced by 100 won per liter compared to prices on the 17th. While the intention is to alleviate the burden of high fuel prices for travelers returning home during the holiday, serious controversy over fairness has emerged as support is directed solely at expressway facilities, which account for only about 2% of the approximately 9,000 gas stations nationwide.

(Seoul=NEWS1) Reporter Lee Gwang-ho = On the 20th, fuel price information is displayed at a gas station in downtown Seoul, where gasoline and diesel prices across the country have fallen for 18 consecutive weeks due to the government's maximum price system. According to the Korea National Oil Corporation's fuel price information system, Opinet, the average selling price of gasoline at national gas stations during the third week of September was 1,858.6 won per liter, a decrease of 0.5 won compared to Jeonju, while the average selling price of diesel was 1,843.9 won per liter, a decrease of 0.1 won compared to Jeonju. Meanwhile, the government plans to reduce fuel prices by 100 won per liter at 226 expressway gas stations managed by Korea Expressway Corporation during the Chuseok holiday period. 2026.9.20/NEWS1 Copyright © NEWS1. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited. /Photo=NEWS1) Reporter Lee Gwang-ho
(Seoul=NEWS1) Reporter Lee Gwang-ho = On the 20th, fuel price information is displayed at a gas station in downtown Seoul, where gasoline and diesel prices across the country have fallen for 18 consecutive weeks due to the government's maximum price system. According to the Korea National Oil Corporation's fuel price information system, Opinet, the average selling price of gasoline at national gas stations during the third week of September was 1,858.6 won per liter, a decrease of 0.5 won compared to Jeonju, while the average selling price of diesel was 1,843.9 won per liter, a decrease of 0.1 won compared to Jeonju. Meanwhile, the government plans to reduce fuel prices by 100 won per liter at 226 expressway gas stations managed by Korea Expressway Corporation during the Chuseok holiday period. 2026.9.20/NEWS1 Copyright © NEWS1. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited. /Photo=NEWS1) Reporter Lee Gwang-ho

Relevant organizations, including the Korea Petroleum Marketing Association, criticized the move in a statement, saying, "Using public funds to support only specific gas stations by selling them at lower prices is an act that disrupts normal market order." They further raised their voices, arguing that this policy steals customers from ordinary small-scale independent gas stations that are already struggling due to rising international oil prices, soaring rent, and burdensome credit card fees, thereby threatening the livelihood of small business owners.

The association demanded that instead of concentrating the budget solely on expressway gas stations, the government prepare effective support measures such as expanding fuel tax reductions so that all gas stations can receive equal benefits. With grievances and feelings of deprivation among ordinary gas stations left behind under the pretext of stabilizing holiday prices reaching a peak, conflicts in the petroleum distribution market are expected to persist for some time ahead of this Chuseok holiday. This is a moment when urgent government measures for fairness are required.

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*This content was translated by AI.

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