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Iran conflict fuels gas price hike, drivers seek cheapest pumps

Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 19:09 Updated: 09 Mar. 2026, 20:05

Cars fill a gas station in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on March 9. [KIM YE-JUNG]

Cars lined up outside a gas station in Seongbuk District, central Seoul, at 11 a.m. Monday, as drivers rushed to fill up after fuel prices surged following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

At the station — the cheapest in the district, with gasoline priced at 1,787 won per liter ($4.54 per gallon and diesel at 1,766 won per liter, according to Opinet, the oil price information service run by the Korean National Oil Corporation — several employees were busy trying to sort out the traffic jam created outside the station as drivers flocked in search of cheaper fuel amid the price hike.

The adjacent two-lane road was jam-packed with cars both trying to enter the station as well as those just trying to get to wherever they were headed. One driver repeatedly honked their horn after another vehicle tried to cut in line. Six pumps operated continuously for 30 minutes, serving cars and motorcycles without a break.

Domestic gasoline and diesel prices have skyrocketed since the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran started on Feb. 28. In fact, the national average gasoline price stood at 1,902.7 won per liter and diesel at 1,926.34 won as of 4 p.m. on Monday, according to Opinet. The weekly averages last month ranged between 1,686 and 1,691 won for gasoline and 1,582 to 1,594 won for diesel.

In Seoul, the average price reached 1,949.53 won per liter for gasoline and 1,971.53 won for diesel on Thursday.

Some critics have argued that refiners raised gas station prices even before higher-priced crude oil shipments reached Korea. Typically, about two weeks pass before changes in international oil prices are reflected in domestic retail fuel prices.

Cars line up to refuel at a low-price gas station in Seongbuk District, central Seoul, on March 9. [KIM YE-JUNG]

“Gas station fuel prices were inevitably raised as oil supply became unstable due to the possibility of the Strait of Hormuz being blocked and domestic consumer demand surged,” a refinery industry official explained. “We plan to cooperate with the government’s guidelines to stabilize fuel supply.”

The government has moved to address the surge in gas station fuel prices. President Lee Jae Myung ordered officials to discuss possible measures during an emergency Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

“Specific restrictions on gas station prices should be considered,” Lee said.

During the same meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol mentioned the possibility of designating a price cap on fuel prices and investigating possible collusion among refiners.

“All administrative measures will be mobilized to stabilize fuel prices,” Koo said.

A motorcycle driver presses a panel button to refuel a motorcycle at a self-service gas station in Seongbuk District, central Seoul, on March 9. [KWAK JOO-YOUNG]

“I was angry when gas prices jumped right after the war began, but I felt thankful when the president issued a warning message,” said a driver named Kim Pil-seong, who visited a budget gas station in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, at 11 a.m. Monday.

“But we need measures that actually bring prices down, not just words.”

Kim cited a similar situation in June 2022, when gasoline and diesel prices in Korea nearly reached 2,100 won per liter following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Since the same thing is happening again, we will have to see whether the government responds differently this time,” Kim said.

Cars line up to refuel at a low-price gas station in Seongbuk District, central Seoul, on March 9. [KWAN JOO-YOUNG]

Analysts say fuel prices may continue to rise if instability in the Middle East persists.

Global oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel on Monday morning. The level is widely viewed as a major psychological threshold in the international oil market and had not been breached since July 2022.

Drivers are increasingly searching for cheaper stations before prices climb further. Many are using Opinet, Naver Maps and KakaoMap to locate nearby stations with the lowest prices.

A gas station owner in Yongsan District, central Seoul, who sells gasoline at 1,798 won per liter and diesel at 1,758 won — the lowest prices in the district according to Opinet — saw a sharp increase in customer traffic.

Cars line up at a gas station in Seocho District, southern Seoul, as domestic fuel prices rise following the war between the United States and Iran on March 8. [JOONGANG ILBO]

“Compared to before the war, the number of customers has increased by about 50 percent,” said the owner. “The price gap with nearby stations seems to be drawing drivers here.”

A station in Sejong selling gasoline at 1,752 won per liter also saw long lines of vehicles throughout the weekend as drivers queued on nearby roads.

For people who rely on driving for a living, the rising costs have been particularly burdensome.

Delivery driver Bang Je-gwan, who stopped at a self-service station in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, at 10 a.m. Monday, explained that they sought out the station because diesel there cost 1,769 won per liter — the cheapest nearby.

Fuel prices are displayed at a gas station in Seoul as global oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz on March 9. [JOONGANG ILBO]

“I used to spend about 50,000 won every two days on fuel, but today I paid about 70,000 won for roughly the same amount,” Bang complained. Bang has driven delivery trucks in the distribution industry for 20 years.

“We still have to make deliveries every day,” Bang said. “If this continues, my monthly fuel costs — which used to be around 1.2 million won — could rise by more than half.”

Interest in electric vehicles is also rising amid high fuel prices. Online communities related to EVs have seen an increase in inquiries about rentals and purchases.

A man pumps gas at a gas station in Seoul on March 9. [JOONGANG ILBO]

“In the past, about 70 percent of inquiries were for internal combustion vehicles and 30 percent for electric cars, but recently the situation has reversed,” said Kim Hyun-cheol, a manager at a long-term rental company. “More people seem to be turning to EVs as fuel costs rise and subsidies remain available.”

Some citizens are also turning to public transportation or cutting energy use.

“My school is a 30-minute drive or a one-hour-and-30-minute bus ride, but now I am considering taking the buses from now on,” said a graduate student surnamed Choi.

Fuel prices are displayed at a gas station in Seoul as global oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz on March 9. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Police announced they would crack down on illegal practices related to fuel sales.

“Regarding the sharp rise in fuel prices caused by the Middle East situation, we will strengthen enforcement against violations of the Petroleum and Alternative Fuel Business Act,” Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jeong-bo stated during a regular press briefing on Monday.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM YE-JUNG, KWAK JOO-YOUNG [[email protected]]