President Lee Jae-myung visited the Uiwang Inland Container Depot (ICD) to meet with freight transport and logistics industry workers facing challenges due to high fuel prices. The session aimed to directly assess industry difficulties and gather input from various stakeholders, including truck owners, transport companies, and logistics experts. Uiwang ICD, a key hub connecting four industrial complexes and over 20,000 companies in the Seoul metropolitan area, was chosen for its strategic importance in nationwide freight distribution. The president acknowledged that despite government measures, many workers still experience significant hardships and encouraged active feedback for practical solutions.
Industry representatives expressed gratitude for government actions such as the petroleum price ceiling and fuel-linked subsidies, which have helped mitigate losses. However, they highlighted ongoing burdens from sustained high fuel costs, particularly for transport businesses that must absorb these expenses. Specific concerns included difficulties accessing small business loans for trucks valued over 300 million KRW, requests to expand the scope of the safety freight rate system, and challenges related to high warehouse rents and land shortages in the metropolitan area. Suggestions also included increasing subsidies and infrastructure for electric and hydrogen freight vehicles.
President Lee ordered immediate reviews of the industry’s proposals. He instructed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to collaborate on improving loan support for truck owners, especially those with vehicles exceeding 300 million KRW in value. MOLIT was also tasked with examining the expansion of safety freight rate items by comparing domestic and international practices. Additionally, the president directed MOLIT to work with local governments to explore the use of idle land in the metropolitan area for logistics warehouses. The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to ongoing dialogue and responsive policy adjustments.
Frequently asked questions include: How will loan access for truck owners be improved? The government is reviewing support mechanisms for trucks valued over 300 million KRW, aiming for easier access to low-interest loans. Will the safety freight rate system cover more items? MOLIT will analyze transport costs and international examples to consider expanding the system. What actions are planned for logistics warehouse shortages? The government will investigate using idle metropolitan land to address high rents and limited space. These steps are part of a broader effort to support logistics workers amid persistent high fuel prices.
The government’s actions at Uiwang ICD reflect a strong commitment to addressing the real-world challenges faced by logistics workers due to high fuel costs. President Lee Jae-myung’s directive for immediate policy reviews and inter-agency collaboration is grounded in stakeholder feedback and aims to deliver practical solutions. The focus on loan access, safety freight rate expansion, and warehouse land utilization shows responsiveness to industry needs. Ongoing dialogue and transparent policy updates will be essential for building trust and ensuring effective support.