Passport, car registration fees to fall

From January 2002, fees for passports, driver licenses, car registration and regular car inspections will be reduced.

On Friday, the government and ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) held a meeting with Planning-Budget Minister Jeon Yun-Churl, party policy committee head Namgoong Suek and other related officials to discuss reform of the fees system.

At the meeting, a decision to abolish seven funds was made in order with the aim of reducing the financial burden on the public.

The government and MDP decided to amend the fund management law to reduce the number of fees from 61 to 51 by consolidating them (total of 191 trillion won).

In the bill, fees for passports, international exchange and driver licenses among others are to be eliminated while three fees will be consolidated.

This will reduce passport issue fees by 30,000 won and car registration fees by 19,200 won. In addition, car inspection costs and driver license fees will fall by 9,600 won and 3,000~4,200 won, respectively.

Funds of legal procedures, post office insurance and investment funds will be abolished while six other fees, including those for culture and arts promotion fund and public health promotion fund will be converted into public funds.

Park Sung-Won swpark@donga.com