Road Traffic Laws to Know in Korea
We’re already a few months into 2025. Some people may have made getting a driver’s license one of their New Year’s resolutions, and some of them may have already taken the test. As a potential driver, some knowledge of traffic laws in Korea is crucial. Let’s get started.
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Punishments For Drunk Driving
You may be aware that drunk driving is illegal, but knowing about the explicit laws and penalties related to it isn’t so common. To begin, we’ll examine what constitutes drunk driving and its penalties.
According to Article 44, paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act, no one is allowed to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle when drunk. In this case, ‘drunk’ is defined as the driver’s blood alcohol concentration of 0.03% or higher.
The intensity of the penalty increases with the blood alcohol concentration levels.
- Blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.2%: Imprisonment of 2 to 5 years or a fine of 10 million won to 20 million won.
- Blood alcohol concentration 0.08% – 0.2%: Imprisonment of 1 to 2 years or a fine of 5 million won to 10 million won.
- Blood alcohol concentration 0.03% – 0.2%: Imprisonment not more than 1 year or a fine not exceeding 5 million won.
Police officials can conduct breathalyzer tests if they suspect the driver may be under the influence of alcohol. If a driver refuses to comply with the test, their license can be canceled and they might face a prison term of 1 to 5 years or a fine between 5 million won to 20 million won.
If you are sentenced to a penalty for drunk driving or refusal to comply with the breathalyzer test while driving, commit the same crime again within 10 years from the date the penalty was finalized, you will be subject to an aggravated penalty.
- Repeat offense of refusing a breathalyzer test: Imprisonment of 1 to 6 years or a fine of 5 million won to 30 million won.
- Repeat offense of drunk driving:
- Blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.2%: Imprisonment of 2 to 5 years or a fine of 10 million won to 20 million won.
- Blood alcohol concentration 0.03% – 0.2%: Imprisonment of 1 to 5 years or a fine of 5 million won to 20 million won.
You can find more information about drunk driving in the following articles:
Driving in the Fast Lane: Is it Illegal?
According to Article 14 of the Road Traffic Act, certain roads are designated for specific types of vehicles. If you don’t adhere to the designated lanes, it can lead to traffic congestion and can be a threat to the safety of other drivers. Therefore, it’s crucial to be familiar with lane usage rules.
Violating the rules of designated lane travel can result in a penalty fine and demerit points.
Dark Window Tints: Legal or Not?
It’s essential to know that except for cars used for security, emergency, or funeral purposes, a vehicle’s front windshield and driver-side front window visibility rate must meet the specific standards set by law.
As per Article 28 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act, the visibility standards for car windows are:
- Front windshield: 70%
- Driver’s side front window: 40%
If you violate the above rules, you may be subject to a fine of up to 200,000 won.
Please, also note that it is illegal to install devices such as police frequency radios, glare lights, sirens, or emergency lights in your car. Unapproved safety obstructive equipment is also prohibited.
Child Protection Zones
Everyone has seen child protection zones (어린이보호구역), usually called “school zone” around their area. According to Article 12 of the Road Traffic Act, roads surrounding the following facilities are designated as school zones.
- Kindergartens, elementary schools, or special schools
- Childcare centers
- Private teaching institutes (학원)
- foreigners’ schools, alternative schools, international schools, or foreign educational institutions
In these zones, drivers need to be more cautious and attentive as they are often traversed by children who are vulnerable in traffic situations. First of all, in this area, the speed of vehicles must not exceed 30 kilometers per hour.
Cars are prohibited from stopping or parking within a child care zone, except when ordered by a police officer. Streets directly connected to the main entrances and exits of zones classified as childcare zones can never have on-street parking lots. Any existing on-street parking lot must be removed or relocated.
Lastly, police officers or exemplary drivers should guide children safely through the pedestrian crosswalks within child care zones during busy times.
In particular, in Korea, due to a case in which a child died in a school zone traffic accident in 2019, a law was enacted to impose stricter penalties on drivers involved in child traffic accidents in school zones. Therefore, drivers who violate their duties in school zones and cause the following outcomes will face severe penalties.
- Causing the death of a child: Life imprisonment or a minimum of three years’ imprisonment
- Causing injury to a child: Imprisonment of 1 to 15 years or a fine of 5 million won to 50 million won.
Generally, in traffic accidents, penalties may be waived if the victim does not wish to press charges. However, in the case of school zone traffic accidents, the driver’s penalties are not waived even if the child does not wish to press charges.
You can find more information about car accidents in the following article.