Yonhap News Summary

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. ----------------- ■ (2nd LD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector SEOUL -- The government will strictly enforce a mandatory five-day vehicle rotation system for the public sector to respond to possible oil supply disruption amid persisting tensions in the Middle East while implementing additional energy-saving measures, the climate ministry said Tuesday. Starting Wednesday, the government will beef up monitoring of the public sector's compliance with the license plate-based rationing system, under which cars are divided into five groups based on the last digit of their license plate numbers and each group is prohibited from driving on a designated weekday, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260324004552320?section=economy-finance/economy A promotion campaign for a car license plate restriction system is held in Suwon, just south of Seoul, on March 23, 2026. (Yonhap) ----------------- ■ (LEAD) S. Korean currency rebounds from 17-yr low on hopes for Middle East de-escalation SEOUL -- The South Korean won gained sharply against the U. S. dollar Tuesday, recovering from a 17-year low in the previous session, after U. S. President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid talks to end the conflict. The won was quoted at 1,495.2 per dollar, up 22.1 won from the previous session's 1,517.3 won. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260324002751320?section=economy-finance/economy ----------------- ■ (2nd LD) Lee calls for preemptive emergency response system as Iran war drags on SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called on the government to preemptively implement an emergency response system to cope with concerns about the supply of oil and gas, as the U. S.-Israeli war with Iran has dragged on and disruptions of global energy markets have continued. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee also asked for the swift passage of an extra budget to help small and medium-sized firms and vulnerable households hit by a surge in energy prices. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260324003352315?section=national/politics ----------------- ■ (LEAD) Prosecution reform bills approved at Cabinet in significant overhaul SEOUL -- The Cabinet on Tuesday approved two prosecution reform bills that would dismantle the current prosecution service later this year to separate its exclusive power to both initiate criminal probes and indict suspects. When promulgated, it would mark a sweeping overhaul of the nation's prosecution system. Under the new laws, the prosecution office will be shut down in October, 78 years after its establishment in 1948, and two new agencies will exercise indictment and investigate roles, respectively. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260324004851315?section=national/politics ----------------- ■ (LEAD) Gov't reviewing naphtha export restrictions amid Mideast supply disruptions: officials SEOUL -- The government is considering imposing restrictions on naphtha exports as South Korea is facing supply shortages of the material, widely used across petrochemical and other industries, due to persisting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Seoul officials said Tuesday. "Related ministries are preparing for the implementation of naphtha export restrictions," Yang Ghi-wuk, deputy minister for trade, industry and resource security, said in a daily briefing on resources supplies amid the Mideast crisis, noting that the government is aiming to announce such a measure within this week. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260324005951320?section=economy-finance/economy -----------------(END)