In Korea, FSD is legally available only on U.S.-made Teslas such as the Model S, Model X and Cybertruck, because U.S.-built Tesla vehicles are exempt from Korean auto safety certification under the Korea-U.S. FTA. China-made models such as the Model 3 and Model Y have not passed Korea’s safety standards. Of the 229,311 Teslas on Korean roads as of August, just 47,458, or 20.7 percent, can legally use FSD, according to car market research firm Carisyou Data Lab.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport asked police to investigate in April after finding signs of unauthorized FSD activation. The government considers the practice a violation of the Motor Vehicle Management Act’s ban on arbitrarily changing, installing, adding or deleting software that may affect the safe operation of a vehicle. Violators face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won ($15,000).
