Seoul police have referred eighty Tesla owners to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for illegally activating the autonomous driving feature
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has announced an investigation involving 80 Tesla owners. The owners are accused of illegally activating the "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) driver-assistance system. Law enforcement has forwarded these cases to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing alleged violations of vehicle regulations, and has seized 21 devices used to unlock unauthorized features in the cars.
The operation began following a request from South Korea’s Ministry of Transport to investigate the use of external equipment to modify the operation of certain vehicles from the American manufacturer. Authorities suspect that the owners managed to bypass restrictions imposed by the manufacturer, enabling features that had not been officially approved for use on the country’s roads.
Notably, one of the most significant aspects of this case concerns the origin of the devices involved. According to the police investigation, some drivers acquired them from China or Europe, while others manufactured them themselves. Among those under investigation is an IT professional who developed one of these devices using technical information regarding Tesla’s electronic systems, along with publicly available code.
The investigation revealed that several owners exchanged information through online communities. They not only shared procedures for implementing the FSD system but also shared methods to prevent the vehicles from keeping records of its activation. These practices have been thoroughly documented by investigators, who have gathered posts and other relevant materials to meticulously reconstruct how these modifications were implemented.
Why some Teslas cannot use FSD.
supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in the country toward the end of 2025, its use is authorized only for certain vehicles manufactured in the United States, such as the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck. These vehicles benefit from provisions in the trade agreement between the two countries, which allow for the recognition of specific U.S. safety standards.
The situation is different for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured in China. These vehicles lack the necessary authorization to use the FSD system within South Korea, even though they contain technical components compatible with certain features. According to information provided by Tesla to the relevant authorities, as of the end of September, 183,407 of the 238,968 Tesla vehicles registered in the country were Chinese-made units of these two models, which could not legally use the system.
It is important to note that the supervised Full Self-Driving system does not turn these cars into vehicles capable of operating without human intervention. This advanced driver-assistance system is designed to handle various maneuvers, but it requires the driver’s constant attention. The modifications under investigation enabled the use of features that were not authorized for these vehicles in the South Korean market.
Prison sentences of up to two years and a new request from Tesla.
It is important to note that the legal consequences can be significant. Current legislation in South Korea prohibits the modification, installation, or alteration of software that could compromise a vehicle's safety without proper authorization. Violations carry penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won. However, it should be emphasized that these are the maximum sanctions provided for by law; this does not necessarily mean that the 80 individuals under investigation have been convicted.
The police have warned that activating features through unauthorized procedures can lead to safety issues. The risks mentioned include potential misinterpretations of driving conditions or vehicle behavior that differs from what the driver expects. Relevant authorities have not reported any accidents attributable to these modifications, so it would be inaccurate to present these risks as incidents that have already occurred.
Meanwhile, Tesla had begun remotely deactivating features that were enabled via unauthorized external devices. Despite these measures, attempts to circumvent the restrictions have continued. The police investigation is currently focused on the owners who used the equipment, as well as the methods employed to share and conceal these modifications.
This development coincides with a significant move by the manufacturer. On October 22, Tesla submitted a request to the South Korean government for a regulatory exemption that would allow it to officially introduce its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in vehicles manufactured in China. The request is currently under review and raises a regulatory issue regarding the feasibility of authorizing—via a software update—the implementation of features that do not currently meet established requirements. In the meantime, the restrictions remain in effect.
