The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has referred 80 Tesla owners to prosecutors for using unauthorized hardware to activate the Full Self-Driving system. Investigators seized 21 activation devices, which were either imported from abroad or custom-built by users to bypass regional software restrictions.
The investigation began in April following a request from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Authorities identified that suspects shared instructions online on how to enable the feature and remove evidence of its use. One case involved a device purchased in Europe, while another involved an IT professional who built a tool using technical data on Tesla electronic control systems.
Under South Korean law, FSD is only permitted on US-built Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck vehicles due to specific trade agreement exemptions. Chinese-built models like the Model 3 and Model Y lack approval for the system. Unauthorized software modifications violate the Motor Vehicle Management Act, which prohibits changes that could compromise vehicle safety.
Violators face penalties of up to two years in prison or fines reaching ₩20 million, approximately €12 000. Police state that these unauthorized methods pose significant risks, as vehicles may fail to correctly interpret driving conditions or operate against driver intent. The agency continues to collaborate with transport authorities to address these safety threats.
