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Road Traffic Act — Article 21 (Means of overtaking)

도로교통법 제21조

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) When a driver of any motor vehicle intends to overtake another motor vehicle, he or she shall drive on the left-hand side of the other motor vehicle.

(2) When a rider of a bicycle, etc. intends to pass ahead of a motor vehicle which drives slowly or stops, he or she may go through the right side of the motor vehicle ahead, notwithstanding paragraph (1). In such cases, he or she shall go slowly or stop for a while in consideration of the safety of a person getting in or getting out of the motor vehicle stopped. <Amended on Jun. 9, 2020>

(3) In cases of paragraphs (1) and (2), the driver of any motor vehicle intending to overtake another motor vehicle shall pay due attention to the traffic of the opposite direction and the traffic in front of the motor vehicle traveling ahead, and shall overtake the other motor vehicle traveling ahead at a safe speed and in a safe manner such as using the direction indicators, lights or horn, considering the speed and route of the motor vehicle traveling ahead and the road conditions.

(4) When another motor vehicle is attempting to overtake that motor vehicle in the manner provided for in paragraphs (1) through (3) or Article 60 (2), the driver of any motor vehicle shall not impede the other motor vehicle trying to overtake the motor vehicle by competing with the other motor vehicle by driving at a higher speed or blocking the other motor vehicle trying to overtake the motor vehicle in front of it.[This Article Wholly Amended on Jun. 8, 2011]

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