An electric car charging facility installed at a gas station started operation on Wednesday for the first time in South Korea as part of the government's efforts to expand the use of the green energy vehicles, the trade ministry said.

Recently, the South Korean government revised related laws to allow filling station operators to set up an electric vehicle charger without the need to install explosion prevention facilities, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.


A filling station on Jeju Island, the most popular resort island in the country, became the first shop-in-shop station that provides gasoline pumping and EV charging services in one place.

The operator said it aims to establish eight chargers at its four gas stations on the island by the end of this year.

Most of South Korea's environmentally-friendly cars are being used to travel around Jeju Island, with more than 40 percent of 5,712 units, the country's total number of electric car registrations, hitting the roads of the region as of last year.

The ministry said it will help establish 250 public charging points on the island in 2016 in order to improve convenience for electric car drivers.

"Places like gas stations are easy to access and familiar to every driver. If EV chargers are installed at these places, it will improve the driving environment for electric car owners," Vice Trade Minister Woo Tae-hee said.

"The government will provide more support for projects on setting up EV chargers at oil stations and coffee shops as part of plans to foster new business models."

The government earlier unveiled a scheme to build more than 600 super EV charging facilities throughout the nation by the end of 2016. (Yonhap)