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Road Traffic Act — Article 160 (Administrative fines)

도로교통법 제160조

This English translation is based on the Korean text effective 2025-07-22. The Korean law has since been amended (current version effective 2026-07-01) — check the Korean original.

(1) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding five million won: <Amended on Nov. 28, 2014; Dec. 26, 2020; Oct. 24, 2023>

1. A person who has failed to report the suspension or discontinuation of the operation of a traffic safety educational institution, in violation of Article 78;

2. A person who has failed to post the personal information of instructors and curricula, in violation of Article 109 (2);

3. A person who has failed to post tuition fees, etc., in violation of Article 110 (2), or has received tuition fees in excess of the posted tuition fees, etc., in violation of paragraph (3) of that Article;

4. A person who has failed to take measures necessary to protect students, including the refund of tuition fees, etc., in violation of Article 111;

5. A person who has failed to report the suspension or closure of a driving school or a specialized driving school, in violation of Article 112;

6. A person who has removed signboards or signs provided for in Article 115 (1), has refused, impeded, or evaded the installation of facilities or the affix of signboards or signs, or has removed installed facilities or affixed signboards or signs without permission therefor;

7. An operator who has operated a school bus for children without filing a report under Article 52 (1);

8. An operator who has operated a school bus for children without meeting the requirements provided in Article 52 (3).

9. A person who fails to submit to the commissioner of the City/Do police agency the operation records of the relevant motor vehicles, etc. or undergo an inspection to check the normal operation of the device after registering a motor vehicle, etc. with an ignition interlock device, in violation of Article 50-3 (6).

(2) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding 200,000 won: <Amended on Jan. 28, 2014; Dec. 30, 2014; Oct. 24, 2017; Mar. 27, 2018; May 26, 2020; Jan. 12, 2021; Mar. 19, 2024>

1. Any driver of a motor vehicle or tram who has violated Article 49 (1) (only applicable to subparagraphs 1 and 3 of that paragraph);

2. Any driver who has failed to require all passengers to fasten their seat belts, in violation of Article 50 (1);

3. Any driver who has failed to have all passengers wear their safety harnesses (excluding bicycle riders), in violation of Article 50 (3) or (4);

4. Any operator of a school bus for children who has failed to keep a certificate of report in the school bus for children, in violation of Article 52 (2);4-2. Any driver who has failed to make children or infants onboard the school bus for children fasten their seat belts, in violation of Article 53 (2);4-3. Any person who has failed to receive safety education regarding school buses for children, in violation of Article 53-3 (1);4-4. Any operator of a school bus for children who has made a person who did not receive safety education regarding school buses for children drive a school bus for children or accompany children on a school bus for children, in violation of Article 53-3 (3);4-5. Any operator of a school bus for children who fails to submit safety operation records, in violation of Article 53 (7);

5. Any driver who has violated matters to be observed on the expressway, etc. pursuant to Article 67 (2);

6. Any person who has failed to receive education regarding the safe operation, etc. of emergency motor vehicles, in violation of Article 73 (4);

7. Any person who has failed to have his or her driver's license renewed during his or her driver's license renewal period, in violation of Article 87 (1);

8. Any person who has failed to receive a regular or occasional aptitude test, in violation of Article 87 (2) or 88 (1);

9. A guardian of a child who has let the child drive a personal mobility device, in violation of Article 11 (4).

10. A person who fails to receive safety education for autonomous motor vehicles, in violation of Article 56-3 (1).

(3) Where it is proven by a photograph, videotape, other visual recorder, or load measurement data that a motor vehicle or tram has violated Article 5, 6 (1) or (2) (referring to prohibition or restriction of traffic), 13 (1), (3), or (5), 14 (2) or (5), 15 (3) (including where cases applied mutatis mutandis in Article 61 (2)), 17 (3), 18, 19 (3), 21 (1) or (3), 22, 23, 25 (1), (2), or (5), 25-2 (1) or (2), 27 (1) or (7), 29 (4) or (5), 32 through 34, 37 (excluding paragraph (1) 2), 38 (1), 39 (1) or (4), 48 (1), 49 (1) 10, 11, 11-2, 50 (3), 60 (1) or (2), 62, or 68 (3) 5, and where such motor vehicle or tram falls under any of the following cases, the employer, etc. provided in Article 56 (1) shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding 200,000 won: <Amended on May 22, 2013; Dec. 2, 2016; Mar. 27, 2018; Jan. 11, 2022; Jan. 7, 2025>

1. Where it is impracticable to issue a written notice provided for in Article 143 (1) because the driver who has performed the violation cannot be identified (limited to where he or she violates Article 15 (3), 29 (4) or (5), 32, 33, or 34);

2. Where it is impracticable to take a disposition to serve a notice pursuant to Article 163.

(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), in any of the following cases, no disposition shall be taken to impose an administrative fine: <Amended on Aug. 11, 2015; Mar. 27, 2018>

1. Where the relevant motor vehicle or tram has been stolen or where there is any other unavoidable cause;

2. Where a driver is punished pursuant to Article 156 for the relevant violation (including where the driver is subject to a disposition to serve a notice for payment of a penalty pursuant to Article 163);

3. Where a driver who has committed a violation is identified as a result of submitting an opinion under Article 16 (2) of the Act on the Regulation of Violations of Public Order or raising an objection under Article 20 (1) of that Act;

4. Where it is clear that a driver has rented a motor vehicle only, which is a lent motor vehicle by a motor vehicle rental business operator under the Passenger Transport Service Act or an equipment rental business operator under the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act.[This Article Wholly Amended on Jun. 8, 2011]

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