Lights of motor vehicles 
Situations in which the lights of a motor vehicle must be turned on
- The driver of a motor vehicle shall keep its headlights, sidelights, taillights, and other lights turned on in any of the following cases (Article 37(1) of the Road Traffic Act).
· In cases where the driver stops or parks the motor vehicle due to breakdown or other inevitable reasons when he/she is driving at night, i.e. from sunset to sunrise).
· In cases where the driver is obliged to stop or park the motor vehicle on a road due to breakdown or other inevitable reasons when it is foggy, raining or snowing.
· In cases where the driver stops or parks the motor vehicle on a road inside a tunnel due to breakdown or other unavoidable circumstances.
Lighting according to the driving situation
- Every driver of a motor vehicle shall turn on the following lights when driving on a road (Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
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Situation
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Vehicle
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Lights to be turned on
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While driving
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Motor vehicles
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Headlights, sidelights, tail lights, license plate lights, and interior illumination as prescribed by the motor vehicle safety standards (interior illumination shall be applicable only to buses and commercial vehicles for passenger transport business as defined in the Passenger Transport Service Act)
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Motor bicycles
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Headlights, tail lights
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Towed vehicles
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Tail lights, sidelights, license plate lights
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All types of vehicles except motor vehicles and motorbikes
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As notified by the commissioner of a local police agency
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When stopped or parked
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Motor vehicles(except two-wheeled vehicles)
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Tail lights and sidelights as defined by the motor vehicle safety standards
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Two-wheeled vehicles(including motorbikes)
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Tail lights(including reflex reflector)
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All types of vehicles except motor vehicles and motorbikes
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As notified by the commissioner of a local police agency
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Operation of lights
- Drivers shall abide by the following instructions when turning on or operating lights (Article 37(2) of the Road Traffic Act, Article 20 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
· As motor vehicles inevitably proceed in opposite directions to each other at night, drivers shall reduce the brightness of the headlights, lower the direction of the lights, or turn off the lights momentarily. Where road conditions do not cause obstructions to vehicles or trams proceeding in opposite directions to each other, it is not necessary to turn off the lights (Article 20(1)1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).· While driving close behind another motor vehicle or a tram at night, the driver shall deflect the beam of his/her lights downwards and shall not manipulate the brightness of the lights so as to ensure that his/her motor vehicle does not impede the vision etc. of the driver of the vehicle or tram travelling ahead (Article 20(1)2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
· While driving close behind another motor vehicle at night, the driver shall deflect the beam of his/her lights downwards and shall not manipulate the brightness of the lights so as to ensure that his/her motor vehicle does not impede the vision etc. of the driver of the vehicle travelling ahead (Article 20(1)2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
· All drivers of vehicles shall deflect the beam of their headlights downwards when driving through an area with heavy traffic. The same, however, shall not apply to places designated by the commissioner of a local police agency on the grounds that the measure is necessary to secure the safety of traffic and natural flow of traffic (Article 20(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
Penal provision (Article 156(1) of the Road Traffic Act, Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act, Article 93 and Attached Table 8 no.61)
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Violation
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Penalty(KRW)
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Failure to turn on and operate lights (exceptwhen it is foggy, raining or snowing)
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Vans: 20,000 Cars: 20,000 Two-wheeled vehicles: 10,000 Bicycles: 10,000
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Signaling by motor vehicles
When and how to signal
- When a driver intends to turn to the right or the left, cross a road, make a U-turn, slow down, stop, reverse, or change course while traveling in the same direction, it is necessary to signal by using the hand, indicator or other lights until the intended maneuver has been completed (Refer to the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act, Attached Table 2 for time and way of signaling) (Article 38 of the Road Traffic Act, Article 21 of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
Penal provision (Article 156(1) of the Road Traffic Act, Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act, Article 93 and Attached Table 8 no.52)
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Violation
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Penalty(KRW)
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Failure to signal while changing direction or path
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Vans: 30,000 Cars: 30,000 Two-wheeled vehicles: 20,000 Bicycles: 10,000
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