Yes, Dashcams are legal in South Korea under strict privacy and data protection laws. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and Road Traffic Act govern their use, requiring consent for recording identifiable individuals and prohibiting continuous surveillance. Violations may incur fines up to ₩50 million or criminal penalties under the 2026 amendments to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization.
Key Regulations for Dashcams in South Korea
- Consent Requirement: Recording individuals without prior consent violates PIPA, except in public spaces where anonymity is preserved. Dashcams must disable facial recognition in real-time to comply.
- Data Retention Limits: Recorded footage must be deleted within 30 days unless required for legal disputes, per the 2024 Supreme Court ruling on digital evidence admissibility.
- Commercial Use Ban: Dashcam footage cannot be sold or shared for profit without explicit consent from all recorded parties, as enforced by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).
The Road Traffic Act mandates dashcams must not obstruct the driver’s view or interfere with vehicle safety systems. Local police departments, such as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, conduct periodic inspections to verify compliance. Non-compliant devices may be confiscated under the 2025 amendment to the Motor Vehicle Management Act. Foreign drivers must adhere to identical standards, with rental car dashcams subject to additional KCC certification.