The number of vehicles registered annually is rapidly increasing in tandem with population growth on the island. Over the last 12 months, more than 100 vehicles a day have been newly registered. Mike Laidman reports.
[Slug] Car demand growing in Jeju

This is a car dealership in Jeju City. In tune with the recent population rise on the island, this dealership is receiving more and more inquiries about car purchases. Demand for electric vehicles and sport utility vehicles is also growing.

INTERVIEW
Kim Jeong-oh / Car dealership representative
As the local population increases, car demand is growing. The number of EV buyers is also increasing.
<인터뷰:김정오/자동차회사 관계자>
"최근 아무래도 제주 인구가 많이 늘어나다 보니까 자연스럽게 자동차 수요도 늘고 있고 최근에는 전기차 관련 고객들이 늘고 있는 추세입니다"

The number of registered cars has surged alongside the population growth.
Fewer than 300,000 vehicles were registered in 2012. More than 380,000 were registered in 2014, and already, 457,000 have been registered this year.

Over 40,000 cars have been added to Jeju’s roads over the last 12 months - an average of 110 vehicles per day. Tax revenues the local government earns from all these new vehicles has doubled over the last five years, climbing from 35 billion won to 62 billion won.

[2 line slug] 0.76 car per capita
Common to have 2 or more cars per household

The number of vehicles per capita in Jeju is 0.76, the highest in the nation.
It's also common to have two or more cars per family.

Sync
Local
Both of us work and we have to drive to work, so each of us has a car.
<씽크:도민>
"저희는 맞벌이고 출퇴근 길이 멀다보니 두 대 갖고 있어요."

Inconvenient bus routes and schedules and the rise in dual income households have contributed to the increase in car numbers.

INTERVIEW
Han Jae-yeong / Jeju City Automobile Registration Office
In the past, each household owned a car. Now it's more common for the older and younger generations to each own one, which has led to more cars in Jeju.
<인터뷰:한재영/제주시자동차등록사무소>
"예전에는 세대별로 한 대씩 보유했지만 요즘에는 부모나 자식이 각각 소유하는 경향이 있어서 그것이 가장 큰 증가 요인이라고 생각합니다."

Jeju’s main roads suffer from heavy traffic congestion, even during afternoon hours before the 6pm rush. The island’s parking spaces can only accommodate about 60 percent of the total registered cars, leading to a serious parking shortage.

[Report] Mike Laidman [Camera] Park Byeong-joon

The island’s public transportation system needs an urgent facelift,and perhaps a new policy for buyers of midsize cars over 1600cc to present proof that they have a parking space for their new vehicle. But in the meantime, development surges along, with no clear path for just where there will be parking availability.

Mike Laidman, KCTV