S. Korean embassies criticized for using foreign cars as diplomatic vehicles

South Korean diplomatic officials are facing criticism for extravagantly spending taxpayers' money on luxury foreign car brands, which account for 20 percent of diplomatic vehicles at embassies overseas.

Of the 681 diplomatic vehicles in South Korea's embassies overseas, 545 are South Korean made.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has faced increased calls from the National Assembly and the media to reduce spending by replacing foreign cars with South Korean-made ones as diplomatic vehicles.

The ministry's instructions on the management of diplomatic vehicles mandate South Korean diplomatic offices to prioritize buying domestic brands over foreign ones as embassy cars.

South Korea's embassy in the UK had the lowest ratio of domestic brands among diplomatic vehicles. It has one Hyundai, four Mercedes-Benz, and one Volkswagen.

The ministry's report revealed that 11 out of 55 cars purchased for use in embassies since 2020 are imported brands, which is in breach of the government's policy on diplomatic vehicle management.

Lawmaker Tae Yong-ho of the main opposition People Power Party criticized the ministry for failing to follow up on measures to ensure the use of domestic vehicles by embassies.