‘Safe Electric Vehicle Use Campaign’ Begins in Jeju... TS, Jeju Province and Jeju Fire Service Join Forces

[Financial News] A campaign to help people safely charge and use electric vehicles is beginning in Jeju Province, which has the highest EV adoption rate in the country.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS)’s Vehicle Safety Research Institute announced that, starting on the 16th, it would work with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Fire Safety Headquarters to promote the ‘Safe Electric Vehicle Use Campaign,’ aimed at protecting EV drivers in Jeju and establishing proper charging practices.
The Vehicle Safety Research Institute will inform EV drivers of three key safety rules: checking for damage to the charging connector and foreign objects inside it; having the vehicle inspected at a service center after battery impact or an accident; and never touching orange high-voltage cables. The campaign is intended to proactively prevent EV-related safety accidents in the daily lives of Jeju residents and tourists, as Jeju has the highest EV adoption rate in the country.
The campaign was designed based on EV fire-investigation data accumulated by the Vehicle Safety Research Institute and its analysis of the causes. The analysis found that, in addition to mechanical and electrical factors within the vehicle itself, a significant share of EV fires resulted from inadequate driver maintenance or external factors, including failure to inspect a battery after an impact, poor vehicle maintenance, faulty contact with charging connectors, and fires caused by externally installed equipment such as auxiliary batteries. After consulting with relevant agencies, the institute identified safety rules that drivers could easily follow in their daily lives and produced promotional materials through on-site inspections.
The Vehicle Safety Research Institute will place ‘Safe Electric Vehicle Use Guide’ stickers on public fast chargers managed by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office to inform users of the safety rules. QR codes at the bottom of the notices will provide easy access to detailed guidance, while the Motor Vehicle Recall Center will allow users to report vehicle defects and check whether a vehicle is subject to a recall.
Following the Jeju pilot, the Vehicle Safety Research Institute plans to closely review areas for improvement at charging sites and user feedback before expanding the campaign nationwide.
Yong-Sik Jung, president of the authority, said, "EV safety can be ensured only when proper safety-management habits among drivers accompany technical verification." He added, "Based on our cooperation with the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office and the Jeju fire service, we will listen closely to feedback from the field, identify areas for improvement, and take the lead in establishing a culture of safe EV use nationwide."

[email protected] Kyung-soo Jung Reporter