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1 in 3 drivers admit to speeding, transportation survey finds

Published: 26 Apr. 2026, 16:59

Pedestrians move through a school zone near an elementary school in Seoul on Feb. 18, 2024. [YONHAP]

Only about two-thirds of drivers in Korea follow speed limits, with roughly one in three admitting to speeding, according to recent data.

The compliance rate stood at 65.7 percent last year, highlighting persistent gaps despite widespread enforcement and rising penalties.

Speed limits are posted across expressways, national roads and city streets, with police setting them based on road conditions to prevent accidents and protect pedestrians. Expressway limits generally range from 100 to 120 kilometers per hour (62 to 75 miles per hour), while motor-only roads are usually set at 80 to 90 kilometers per hour, which are restricted to vehicles.

This is compared with the 50 kilometer-per-hour limit on most city streets shared with pedestrians and local traffic. School zones are limited to 20 to 30 kilometers per hour.

The compliance rate has remained at a similar level over the past three years, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority said. The figure is measured through online and field surveys conducted every year from July to October among about 24,000 adults in 229 local governments by asking whether they had driven above the speed limit in the previous 30 days.

If caught exceeding the speed limit, drivers may face substantial fines or penalties, such as accumulating demerit points that at a certain threshold can lead to license suspension or permanent cancellation, depending on the severity of the violation. On general roads, speeding by more than 20 kilometers per hour results in a 40,000 won ($27) fine for passenger vehicles. If the excess speed exceeds 60 kilometers per hour, the fine rises to 130,000 won.

Fines issued through automated cameras are imposed on the vehicle owner because the driver cannot be identified. Unpaid fines incur additional charges, and repeated nonpayment can lead to license plate seizure.

A police officer is on duty at a crossroads in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on March 7, 2025. [NEWS1]

Drivers stopped by police face penalties and demerit points. On roads in general, exceeding the limit by up to 20 kilometers per hour results in a 30,000 won penalty with no points. Speeding by more than 60 kilometers per hour results in a 120,000 won fine and 60 demerit points. Failure to pay penalties can result in penalties, including license suspension.

Penalties are tougher in school zones and other areas designated to protect vulnerable road users. For passenger vehicles, speeding by up to 20 kilometers per hour in such zones results in a 70,000 won fine, 75 percent higher than on general roads. Speeding by more than 60 kilometers per hour raises the fine to 160,000 won.

Police-issued penalties are also higher in those zones. Speeding by up to 20 kilometers per hour brings a 60,000 won penalty and 15 demerit points, double the penalty on general roads. Speeding by more than 60 kilometers per hour raises the penalty to 150,000 won and 120 demerit points.

The bigger concern is not the money or points, but the increased risk of crashes.

“Drivers must comply with speed limits at all times to prevent traffic accidents and protect pedestrians, including children,” an official from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority said.

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 KANG KAP-SAENG [[email protected]]