Starting Today, Mandatory Full Stop on Right Turns at Intersections... 60,000 KRW Fine and 10 Points Penalty for Violations

A right-turning vehicle is stopped on the road near Seoul Station. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency announced on the 12th that it will begin cracking down on vehicles violating the revised Road Traffic Act, which strengthens the obligation to protect pedestrians, after a three-month guidance period.

The revised Road Traffic Act, which came into effect on July 12, requires drivers to stop not only when pedestrians are "crossing" the crosswalk but also when they are "about to cross." If a driver fails to stop and proceeds despite the presence of pedestrians crossing or intending to cross the crosswalk, a fine of 60,000 KRW (for passenger cars) and 10 penalty points will be imposed.

The police initially operated a one-month guidance and publicity period but extended it until the day before due to repeated criticisms that the criteria for stopping were ambiguous in the field. According to the police, during the three-month guidance period, right-turn traffic accidents numbered 3,386, with 22 fatalities, representing a 24.4% decrease in accidents and a 45% decrease in fatalities compared to the previous year.

In response to concerns that it is difficult to clearly recognize when pedestrians intend to cross the crosswalk during the guidance period, the police decided to enforce crackdowns only when the pedestrian's behavior and intention to cross the crosswalk are clearly observable from outside and can be universally agreed upon. Additionally, the police plan to continuously promote and guide the correct crossing methods by preparing public service advertisements and other promotional means to increase public understanding of the revised law.

A National Police Agency official urged, "Drivers should check for pedestrians around the crosswalk, not just the pedestrian signal, when making a right turn," and advised that "it is best to cultivate the habit of stopping whenever pedestrians are seen."

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