South Korean police have referred 80 Tesla owners to prosecutors over the alleged unauthorised activation of the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in vehicles that are not approved to use the technology, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s traffic crime investigation team seized 21 devices allegedly used to bypass Tesla’s regional software restrictions. Investigators suspect that some owners imported the equipment from overseas, while others developed their own tools to activate FSD without regulatory approval.
One case reportedly involved a Tesla owner who purchased an activation device in Europe and connected it to the vehicle. Another suspect, who works in the information technology sector, allegedly developed a device using technical information about Tesla’s electronic control systems and open-source materials.
Police also found that some suspects had shared online instructions explaining how to activate FSD without authorisation and conceal evidence of its use in vehicles.
South Korean Approval Rules Restrict FSD Availability
Under South Korean regulations, Tesla’s FSD system is currently available only on US-built Model S and Model X vehicles and the Cybertruck. These models are exempt from domestic vehicle safety certification under provisions of the South Korea-US free trade agreement.
Chinese-built Tesla models, including the Model 3 and Model Y, are not approved to use the system.
Unauthorised activation is considered a potential violation of South Korea’s Motor Vehicle Management Act, which prohibits unapproved modifications to vehicle software that could affect safe operation.
Those found guilty face penalties of up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won (approximately €12,000).
Police Cite Potential Road Safety Risks
Investigators have warned that bypassing regional software restrictions could create safety risks. These include the possibility that vehicles may fail to interpret driving conditions correctly or respond in ways that conflict with the driver’s intentions.
The investigation began in April following a request from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Korea JoongAng Daily quoted a police official as saying:
“We are working closely with related agencies, including asking the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and [the] Korea Transportation Safety Authority for advice on technical matters such as changes to FSD’s functional structure. We will continue to actively investigate illegal acts that threaten road safety.”
The case highlights the regulatory challenges surrounding the use of advanced driver-assistance and automated driving software across markets with different vehicle approval requirements.