Tesla FSD system under scrutiny in South Korea

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, a feature designed to assist with driving tasks, has come under scrutiny in South Korea after multiple incidents occurred within a 72-hour period. Authorities are investigating whether some drivers have improperly disabled their vehicles to use the feature.

Legal action against Tesla owners

On October 27, 2026, the Seoul Metropolitan Police sent the records of 80 Tesla owners to the prosecutor’s office, accusing them of illegally disabling their vehicles to access the FSD. The police also seized 21 unauthorized devices used to bypass restrictions.

Limited FSD activation in South Korea

According to data from Tesla Korea, of the 239,000 Tesla vehicles registered in South Korea by the end of September, only about 53,000 are legally allowed to activate the FSD. The majority of Tesla vehicles, produced in China, cannot officially use the feature despite some owners paying up to 9 million won for it.

Differences in vehicle certifications

Tesla models imported from the United States benefit from the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, allowing them to activate the FSD via a software update. However, vehicles made in China must meet Korean safety standards, which currently do not recognize the supervised driving assistance regulation (UN R171).

Korean drivers bypass restrictions

Some Korean Tesla owners have resorted to using unauthorized unlocking devices to access the FSD. These devices, connected to the vehicle’s CAN bus, trick the system to bypass geographic blocks. The police warn of serious accident risks and improper vehicle responses.

Legal battle over FSD refunds

In 2024, 88 customers sued Tesla Korea, seeking refunds for the FSD option. The Seoul Central District Court dismissed the case, stating Tesla did not breach the contract since some features were already available and future updates were not guaranteed at the time of purchase.

Tesla seeks regulatory exemption

Tesla Korea has requested an exemption from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to allow FSD activation on China-made vehicles. However, the ministry has not previously used the relevant regulation for software updates and is waiting for more technical data from Tesla.

International regulatory developments

South Korean Tesla customers are watching developments in Europe, where the Netherlands authorized the FSD in April, and a dozen European countries now accept it. The EU could vote on a unified authorization for the FSD as early as December, though South Korea is not directly involved in these discussions.