Driving Schools in South Korea

Drive on the Right — South Korea drives on the right side. Overtake only on the left. At unmarked intersections, yield to vehicles coming from the right. Left turns at major intersections require a green arrow signal.

Dashcam Culture (블랙박스) — South Korea has one of the highest dashcam adoption rates in the world. Most vehicles are equipped with front and rear dashcams (블랙박스). Dashcam footage is widely accepted as evidence in insurance claims and legal proceedings.

BAC 0.03% — Yoon Chang-ho Law (윤창호법) — Blood alcohol limit is 0.03% — reduced from 0.05% in June 2019. BAC 0.03–0.08%: licence suspension, up to 1 year imprisonment or fine up to KRW 5 million. BAC 0.08–0.2%: licence revocation, 1–2 years imprisonment or KRW 5–10 million fine. BAC 0.2%+: 2–5 years imprisonment or KRW 10–20 million fine. Refusing a breathalyzer: treated as BAC 0.08%+.

School Zones — Minsik's Law (민식이법) — Speed limit of 30 km/h in all school zones (어린이보호구역). Double fines and penalty points for violations. Criminal penalties for injuring children: 3 years or more imprisonment for causing death (up to life imprisonment); 1–15 years or KRW 5–30 million fine for causing injury. Effective since March 2020.

Mandatory Insurance (의무보험) — Third-party liability insurance (의무보험) is mandatory for all registered vehicles. Minimum coverage includes bodily injury liability. Driving without insurance: up to 1 year imprisonment or fine up to KRW 10 million.

Phone Ban — Handheld Prohibited — Using a handheld phone while driving is prohibited. Fine: KRW 60,000 and penalty points. Hands-free devices and Bluetooth are permitted. Navigation use is allowed only with a mount.