‘Government reviewing sites for 8 more discount gas stations’


The average gasoline price in Seoul’s 25 districts rose above 2,000 won per liter, according to the Korea National Oil Corporation Thursday.

The average price of gasoline in Gangbuk-gu gas stations hit 2,000 won per liter as of Wednesday 5 p.m., joining other districts.

Average gasoline prices in 19 Seoul districts went over 2,000 won per liter in early February.

Gwangjin-gu (2,008 won), Dobong-gu (2,023 won), Dongdaemun-gu (2,019 won), Eunpyeong-gu (2,027 won) and Jungnang-gu (2,007 won) recently entered the 2,000-won range.

Jongno-gu showed the highest average gasoline price of 2,246 won per liter as of Wednesday.

Jung-gu (2,237 won), Yongsan-gu (2,223 won) and Gangnam-gu (2,211 won) also had expensive gas stations.

The average gasoline price in Seoul has continued to rise daily ever since it hit a record 2,079 won per liter on Feb. 22. It was 2,092.24 won per liter on Wednesday.

Knowledge Economy Minister Hong Suk-woo said Wednesday that the government was reviewing sites for about eight more discount gas stations in Seoul, adding to the existing two.

There are 371 discount gas stations run by Nonghyup and the KNOC across the country, but gasoline prices are higher around the Seoul area.

The nationwide average price climbed everyday since Jan. 6 to 2,019.59 won per liter on Wednesday. It first broke the record on Feb. 23.

South Jeolla Province, the only region that had remained in the 1,900-won range, joined other provinces and metropolises Wednesday with 2,001,12 won.

Gas stations in Jeju (2,032.85 won), Gyeonggi (2,028.79 won) and Incheon (2,024.86 won) showed relatively high average gasoline prices.

North Gyeongsang (2,002.96 won), Ulsan (2,004 won) and Gwangju (2,007 won) had the cheapest.

“Prices of domestic petroleum products will continue to rise as oil refiners’ gasoline supply price recently hit a record 1,010.3 won per liter,” a KNOC official said.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)