SEOUL: South Korea said on Sunday it would drastically reduce the use of government vehicles from next week as part of its first major contingency plan aimed at saving energy amid soaring oil prices.

Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo said more than 15,000 vehicles at 819 government offices or state-run bodies would be forced to remain idle every other day from July 15.

Vehicles with even-numbered licence plates would be banned from running on even-numbered days, and those with odd-numbered plates restricted from operating on odd-numbered days, Han said.

.“Even oil-producing countries are tightening their belts to save energy in the era of the ultra high oil prices,” Han told a news conference, stressing the government should lead the energy-saving campaign. Sunday’s package of emergency measures aimed at saving energy stipulates that the government would replace half of its vehicles with energy-efficient compact or hybrid cars by 2012.—AFP