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South Korean police have referred about 80 Tesla owners or drivers to prosecutors for allegedly activating Tesla’s supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature with unauthorized devices. Investigators also seized 21 devices that were allegedly used to bypass Tesla’s software restrictions. The case, announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on October 27, 2026, concerns suspected safety-relevant vehicle-software modifications—not ordinary use of Tesla’s officially enabled driver-assistance system.
Police say the devices were imported from Europe or China, or built by users themselves, and circumvented Tesla’s official software-update and certification process. Under the reports’ description of South Korea’s Automobile Management Act, such modifications can carry up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
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The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s traffic-crime investigation unit said it booked and referred approximately 80 Tesla owners or drivers on suspicion of illegally enabling FSD. In this context, “booked” means police recorded the suspects in a criminal investigation and sent the case to prosecutors; it does not mean a court has found them guilty.
Investigators said some suspects purchased activation hardware in Europe or China, while others made devices themselves. Police described one case involving vehicle electronic-control information and open-source material, and another involving a purchased European device connected to a privately owned Tesla. Reports also said online communities circulated activation techniques and methods intended to avoid leaving records in a vehicle.
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The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requested the investigation in April 2026. Police said they consulted the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and other agencies about the technical issues.
Are Tesla FSD unlock devices legal in South Korea?
Authorities are treating the alleged modifications as potentially illegal because they alter vehicle software that can affect safe operation. The reports characterize arbitrary modification, installation, addition or deletion of such software as an offense under Korea’s Automobile Management Act.
The maximum penalty reported in connection with the case is two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won. The eventual charge and outcome will depend on prosecutorial decisions, evidence, the specific vehicle and device, and the courts. The reported penalty is a statutory maximum, not a sentence imposed on all 80 suspects.
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Which Tesla models can legally use FSD in Korea?
The reports describe Korean FSD eligibility as limited to U.S.-built Tesla vehicles covered by the relevant U.S. safety-standard and Korea-U.S. free-trade arrangement. They identify the U.S.-built Model S, Model X and Cybertruck as the vehicles permitted to use the feature under that framework.
Chinese-built vehicles—including Model Y and reported Chinese-built Model 3 examples—were described as not certified for FSD in Korea. Eligibility therefore depends on vehicle origin, certification and official software status, not simply the model name or whether an owner can physically install an activation device.
| Vehicle or access route | Reported Korean status | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| U.S.-built Model S | Reportedly eligible when officially certified and enabled | Use remains subject to Tesla’s approved software and Korean requirements |
| U.S.-built Model X | Reportedly eligible when officially certified and enabled | Factory-authorized activation is the relevant route |
| U.S.-built Cybertruck | Reportedly eligible when officially certified and enabled | Vehicle origin and certification still control eligibility |
| Chinese-built Model Y | Reportedly not certified for FSD | An unauthorized unlock does not create legal certification |
| Chinese-built Model 3 | Reportedly not certified for FSD | Model branding alone does not establish Korean eligibility |
The eligibility figures are not a general Tesla specification: JoongAng, citing Kaizyu Data Research Institute, reported that 47,458 of 229,311 Teslas operating in Korea—20.7 percent—were legally FSD-eligible as of August 2026. That is a secondary reported statistic rather than a police count.
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What safety risks did police identify?
Police said unauthorized activation bypasses the manufacturer’s software updates and certification checks. Their concern is that a system enabled outside that process may not be configured for the vehicle, local operating conditions or the driver’s expectations.
Seoul Economic Daily published the police warning that unauthorized activation created risks including “the vehicle failing to properly recognize driving conditions or operating against the driver’s intent.” Those risks matter even though Tesla’s FSD is supervised: the driver remains responsible for monitoring the road and taking control, while the software’s behavior can still be affected by configuration, sensors, maps and approved operating limits.
How does official FSD access differ from an unauthorized activation?
Factory-authorized access is tied to the vehicle’s certified configuration and Tesla’s update path. An unauthorized device attempts to defeat that control, leaving the vehicle outside the process authorities and the manufacturer use to validate behavior.
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| Issue | Factory-authorized, certified use | Unauthorized activation |
|---|---|---|
| Legal eligibility | Restricted to vehicles and configurations recognized under Korean rules | May attempt to enable a feature on an ineligible vehicle |
| Updates and certification | Uses the manufacturer’s approved software and update process | Bypasses or interferes with that process |
| Safety validation | Relies on the certified vehicle-software combination | Potentially unvalidated behavior and failure modes |
| Service traceability | Activation and configuration remain within official records | Modifications may complicate diagnosis, warranty and service records |
| Exposure | Subject to normal driving and regulatory obligations | Potential criminal investigation, prosecution and financial penalties |
What happens next in the Korean case?
Because the files were referred to prosecutors, prosecutors will assess the evidence and decide whether to seek indictments, request additional investigation or close individual cases. Seized devices, vehicle records and technical evidence may be relevant to those decisions. The reported count can change as the investigation and prosecutorial review continue.
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Police said they would continue working with relevant agencies and “investigate aggressively any illegal activity that threatens road safety.” Owners should not assume that a device bought abroad is lawful in Korea, or that removing it eliminates potential evidence of a software modification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should Tesla owners do if their car is not officially FSD-eligible?
Do not install or connect an unofficial activation device. Check the vehicle’s build origin, current Korean certification and software status through Tesla’s official support channels, and keep purchase, service and update records. If police or prosecutors contact an owner, obtaining advice from a Korean lawyer familiar with automotive regulation is safer than attempting to alter logs or restore software independently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does being referred to prosecutors mean the Tesla drivers are convicted?
No. Referral starts the prosecutorial stage after the police investigation. Prosecutors may bring charges or take another action, and guilt can be determined only through the Korean judicial process.
Can importing an FSD unlock device from Europe make it legal in Korea?
No. The reports focus on Korean vehicle certification and software rules, not the country where hardware was purchased. Foreign origin does not replace Korean approval for the vehicle or feature.
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Is Tesla’s supervised FSD the same as a fully autonomous car?
No. Supervised FSD still requires an attentive driver who can intervene. The police case concerns unauthorized software activation and its possible effects on vehicle behavior, not a finding that the system is legally autonomous.
Why does vehicle manufacturing location matter for Korean FSD access?
The reported Korean framework ties eligibility to the vehicle’s certification and applicable U.S. safety-standard and Korea-U.S. trade arrangements. Two cars with the same model name can therefore have different eligibility if they were built for different markets.
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