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South Korea traffic law report

Source agencyKorea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD)

Last updated12 February 2026

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Key findings

Theory test pass rate is ~63% (2024, KoROAD (aggregate estimate))
Road fatalities: 2,551 deaths in 2023 — Down 6.7% from 2022 (2,735 to 2,551); 10th consecutive year of decline
~2 million tests administered per year by Korea Road Traffic Authority
Most challenging topic: Fines & License Classifications

Quick facts

Theory test format40 multiple-choice questions; Type 1: 70/100 to pass, Type 2: 60/100

Test languagesKorean, English, Chinese, and Vietnamese

Automated road testDriving course test is fully automated with no instructor in the car

BAC limit0.03% — one of the strictest limits in the world (lowered from 0.05% in 2019)

License costDriving school training costs KRW 900,000-1,500,000

Pedestrian fatalitiesPedestrians account for 35% of all road deaths (high vs OECD average)

Test statistics

Pass rate65% or higher50–64%Below 50%

Theory test pass rate

~63%KoROAD (aggregate estimate) (2024)

Practical test pass rate

~70%KoROAD (estimated; requires 70/100 to pass) (2024)

Tests administered per year

~2 millionKoROAD (estimated) (2023)

Speed limits

Urban60 km/h (50 km/h in some zones)

Rural / national roads80 km/h

Motorway / highway100-110 km/h (120 on select roads)

Most challenging topics

1. Fines & License Classifications
Memorization of specific penalty amounts and license category rules
2. Detailed Traffic Laws
Tollgate regulations, right-turn rules at intersections, picture-based questions
3. Traffic Signs & Safety Signs
Must know meaning AND installation locations of signs
4. Autonomous Vehicles & PMDs
Newer topics on personal mobility devices and autonomous vehicle rules
5. First Aid
Injury assessment, evacuation priority, and emergency procedures

Road safety

Road fatalities2,551 deathsKorean National Police Agency / KoROAD (2023)

TrendDown 6.7% from 2022 (2,735 to 2,551); 10th consecutive year of decline

Penalties & fines

Speeding: Graduated fines by speed over limit; 10 km/h tolerance; enforced primarily by speed cameras
Driving under influence: BAC 0.03% limit (one of strictest globally); BAC 0.03-0.08%: up to 1 year jail or KRW 5M fine; BAC >0.2%: 2-5 years or KRW 20M; 3 strikes = permanent revocation
Points system: 121+ points in 1 year / 201+ in 2 years / 271+ in 3 years = license revocation; DUI = 100 points
Mobile phone use: ~KRW 70,000 fine + 6 demerit points

Recent law changes

2024
Ignition interlock devices available for conditional license after 2nd DUI conviction within 5 years
2024
Road Traffic Act amended to provide legal basis for mobile/digital driver's licenses
2024
Level 3 autonomous vehicle regulations: drivers may use phones while autonomous system is active

Sources & methodology

All statistics in this report are sourced from official government agencies and publicly available data. AutoviaTest is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with any government testing agency.

Data last verified: 2026-02-12

Primary sources

Test statistics · 2024KoROAD (aggregate estimate)Road safety data · 2023Korean National Police Agency / KoROAD Official regulatory bodyKorea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD)

Cite this report

AutoviaTest. (2026, February 12). South Korea traffic law report: Driving test statistics. https://autoviatest.com/en/traffic-law-reports/south-korea

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South Korea Driving Stats

Theory pass rate~63%Practical pass rate~70%Motorway speed limit100-110 km/hRoad fatalities (2023)2,551 deaths

Source: AutoviaTest | CC BY 4.0

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