The Ministry of Construction and Transportation announced Monday that it will imposes an alternate day driving system during the World Cup, which will be mandatory at five venues, but discretionary at others. Dependent on whether the last number of their cars registration plate is odd or even will determine on which days drivers can use their cars in Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Busan, and Jeonju during match days and eve of games.. Drivers who violate the system will receive a W50,000 traffic ticket as a penalty.

Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Seoqwipo will encourage a voluntary system it is operating self-imposed control car allotment system without a regulation.

The days of operation will be May 30 and 31, and June 12 and 13 in Seoul; June 8 and 11, and 13 and 14 in Incheon; June 4 and 5, 10 and 13, and 15 and 16 in Suwon; June 1 and 6 in Busan; and June 6 and 7, 9 and 10, and 16 and 17 in Jeonju. The ban operates from 7:00am to 10:00pm in Seoul, Incheon and Suwon; 9:00am to 9:00pm in Busan; and 9:00am to 10:00pm in Jeonju and applies to passenger cars and large vans not used commercially.

Exceptions are cars with diplomatic plates, those owned by news reporters, or the disabled, emergency and provincial election vehicles. The system is being imposed for the fifth time since the first one during the Gulf War in 1991.

(Kim Chung-il, cilee@chosun.com )