No. Eating while driving is not explicitly banned nationwide in South Korea, but local ordinances and traffic safety laws impose indirect restrictions. The Road Traffic Act (제44조) prioritizes attentive driving, while municipal regulations in Seoul, Busan, and Incheon prohibit actions diverting driver focus. Police may penalize offenders under “dangerous driving” clauses, with fines up to ₩50,000 (2024).
Key Regulations for Eating While Driving in South Korea
- Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance (2023 Revision): Prohibits consuming food or beverages that require both hands, classifying it as a distraction under Article 12-2 of the Traffic Safety Ordinance.
- Busan City Traffic Safety Act: Bans eating with utensils or open containers, citing a 2022 study linking such behavior to a 12% increase in near-miss incidents.
- National Police Agency Guidelines (2026 Compliance Shift): Mandates “zero-tolerance” enforcement for drivers holding food items, aligning with upcoming AI-powered traffic surveillance systems.
Violations are typically enforced under Article 54 of the Road Traffic Act, which penalizes “improper driving” with fines or demerit points. Courts have upheld convictions where eating impaired vehicle control, even without explicit statutory language. Commercial drivers face stricter scrutiny under Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) fleet safety protocols.