[THE INVESTOR] Over 3,000 Audi and Volkswagen cars that are imported from Germany to South Korea will have to head back immediately upon arrival. 

A total of five vessels carrying a month’s supply of cars had left Germany between end-June to mid-July, before the South Korean government officially banned sales of the VW vehicles, an official from Audi Volkswagen Korea was quoted as saying by a local news outlet.

The first vessel is expected to arrive at the port in Pyeongtaek on Aug. 3.

However, after the government’s latest punitive measure that halted sales of more than 69 percent of vehicles that are sold here, the imported cars will have to return back to Germany as they are no longer eligible to be sold here.

On Aug. 2, the Ministry of Environment banned 80 vehicle models of Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley cars and revoked their certification over emission-rigging. The government also imposed fines of 17.8 billion won (US$16.05 million) on the German carmaker.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)