Criminal Penalties for Lending Driver's License... Revised Law Effective from September

Imprisonment up to 2 Years or Fine up to 5 Million Won
Police: "Clearer Punishments Will Reduce Fraudulent Activities"

Starting this September, lending a driver's license to others for fraudulent purposes will result in criminal penalties. Previously, only administrative sanctions such as license cancellation or suspension were imposed on those who lent their driver's licenses.

According to the National Police Agency on the 24th, the amended Road Traffic Act, which prohibits lending driver's licenses and establishes penalty provisions for violations, was promulgated on the 19th. The amended law introduces a regulation stating that "a issued driver's license must not be lent to others for fraudulent use, nor should such lending be facilitated."

Additionally, a penalty clause was newly established stating that violators "shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of up to 5 million won." The law will take effect six months after promulgation, on September 20.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the case of those who borrowed a driver's license, previously, presenting someone else's license during crackdowns such as drunk driving resulted in punishment under the Criminal Act for falsification of official documents. However, with this amendment, even if the borrowed driver's license is not directly used, the act of borrowing itself becomes punishable.

The police judged that lending driver's licenses frequently occurs to evade drunk driving crackdowns and have been pushing for this legal amendment with the National Assembly to suppress such acts. A National Police Agency official stated, "Previously, those who lent their driver's licenses had to be prosecuted under aiding and abetting or accessory charges, making actual punishment difficult," adding, "From now on, clear punishment will be possible, which will reduce fraudulent acts."

The amended law also includes numerous new provisions related to autonomous vehicle safety. If the autonomous driving system requires "direct driving," the driver is obligated to respond promptly and directly operate steering, braking, and other controls. Furthermore, those intending to drive a vehicle authorized for autonomous operation must receive autonomous vehicle safety driving education. The mandatory autonomous vehicle safety education clause will be enforced starting next March, one year after promulgation.

In addition to driver's licenses, regulations regarding qualifications for driving instructors at professional driving schools and driving skills examiners were introduced in this amendment. Lending these qualifications to others for fraudulent purposes is prohibited, and violators face imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of up to 5 million won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.