South Korea Weighs First Nationwide Driving Curbs in 35 Years Amid Oil Crunch

South Korea is considering its first nationwide driving restrictions in over three decades, a dramatic move signaling the severity of the current oil supply crisis. The potential curbs, which would apply to the general public, represent a significant escalation beyond measures already imposed on the government's own workforce. This places the country on the brink of a major policy shift not seen since the 1980s, directly linking energy security to everyday civilian mobility. The deliberation follows an initial, targeted restriction on civil servants, limiting how often they can use personal vehicles to access government buildings. This internal measure served as a preliminary stress test and a political signal. Expanding this framework to the national level would mark a profound intervention into daily life and the economy, underscoring the government's assessment that market mechanisms and voluntary conservation are insufficient to address the crunch. The move places immense pressure on policymakers to balance energy security with economic disruption and public compliance. Key sectors like logistics, retail, and manufacturing face potential operational hurdles, while the political cost of enforcing such unpopular measures remains a critical unknown. The decision will serve as a stark indicator of how Seoul prioritizes resource stability against domestic friction during a global energy shock.