Jeonbuk Police announced that they will focus on enforcing right-turn stop violations from April 20 to June 19. On the first day of enforcement, they found 10 cases at Deokjin Plaza Intersection in Jeonju. Among them, fines were imposed on 2 cases with high danger, and 8 cases ended with on-site guidance. The police explained that this enforcement is not only for Jeonbuk, but a stronger measure being carried out nationwide together. This is because if right-turning vehicles do not stop in front of a crosswalk, it can lead to pedestrian accidents. The police said they will continue both enforcement and public information to protect residents' lives and build a good traffic culture.
원문 보기
The key point of this news is not a 'new law' but a 'rule that is not settled yet'
At first you might think, "Did the right‑turn rule change again?" But the law isn’t new. The changed rule just isn’t fully settled yet, so they’re tightening enforcement. That’s why police are doing a strong 2‑month crackdown.
It changed in 2022 when the road traffic law was revised, expanding pedestrian protection. Since 2023 the rule to stop first when turning right on red is clearer. But many drivers still think ‘if I turn right and there’s no pedestrian I can just go’, so enforcement news keeps showing up.
So, the current crackdown news isn’t just about fines. It’s showing how Korean road culture is shifting from car‑flow focus to pedestrian protection.
🔴 Red light ahead → always stop. If no pedestrians, turn right.
🟢 Green light ahead 👉 Stop if pedestrians, otherwise go slow and turn right
If you don't follow it!? You could get a 6만원 fine
The right-turn rules changed like this
The key point is that 'stronger pedestrian protection' was added on top of an 'old practice.' If you look at the order, you can understand why there is still confusion now.
Step 1: In 1973, the practice of right turn on red became institutionalized
Korea's been allowing conditional right turns on red for a long time, so many drivers see it as slipping into traffic rather than stopping.
Step 2: In July 2022, the protected group expanded from 'people crossing' to 'people trying to cross' too
From then on the rule changed a lot. It means we have to protect not only pedestrians already on the crosswalk but also those about to cross. Drivers need to be more careful.
Step 3: After January 2023, right turn at a red light became clearer as 'stop first'
As on-site guidance and enforcement began in earnest, the principle became clearer that if the traffic signal ahead is red, you must stop first before making a right turn. The old driving style of just passing slowly is now no longer in line with the purpose of the law.
Step 4: After 2024, it was confirmed that the law changed, but understanding is still low
Research showed that very few drivers know the right‑turn rule. On real roads, people often don’t know when to stop or go.
Step 5: In 2026, focused enforcement came again
So the current crackdown is basically the last step. It went like: law change → confusion on the ground → repeated ads → strong crackdown again.
So when do you stop, and when can you go?
| Situation | Driver action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Front car signal red | First make a brief stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk, then check around you and make a slow right turn | This is the point that changed the most from past practice, so enforcement is focused here |
| Front car signal green | You can make a slow right turn if there is no pedestrian risk | Green does not mean you can go however you want; you still need to keep checking crosswalk safety |
| If there's a right-turn signal | Rather than the general interpretation, follow the right-turn traffic light itself | Even at the same intersection, the standard changes if there is a device installed |
| If there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk right after the right turn, or someone is about to cross | You must stop and let the pedestrian go first | The protected group has expanded from 'people crossing' to 'people about to cross' too |
| If there are no pedestrians at all and the risk is low | If the situation requires a stop, stop first, then check safety and move slowly | The key is not 'you can pass without stopping,' but 'first know the moments when you must stop' |
These are the situations the police see as especially dangerous
| Decision item | Cases likely to end with guidance | Cases likely to lead to a fine |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian risk | No pedestrians, or low risk of a direct collision | A pedestrian is crossing or about to cross, but the car pushes in |
| Location | A relatively quiet place | Busy intersections, around crosswalks, accident-prone spots |
| Driving behavior | Late stop in confusion, a mistake that needs explanation | Sudden entry, causing tailgating, making other cars or people stop suddenly |
| Enforcement stage | Early stage of the system, when operations focus on guidance | During an intensive crackdown period, repeated violations after enough publicity |
| Clarity of evidence | It is hard to clearly identify the dangerous scene | The violation scene and danger are clearly confirmed |
Unchanged right-turn accident stats
Looking at pedestrian accident rates, the problem keeps going. Seeing these numbers, I get why the police are tightening enforcement.
If you read the numbers like this, you can see why the enforcement keeps repeating
The chart above shows the overall flow of pedestrian traffic accidents. Even though the law was strengthened in 2022, accidents did not drop sharply right away in the next year. In other words, just changing one rule does not mean behavior on the road changes immediately.
However, if you look only at right-turn accidents, there were police-cited reports saying deaths fell by 12.8%, from 109 to 95. On the other hand, there were also comments saying the number of accidents and injured people did not change much. If you put this together, the most accurate reading is that enforcement had some effect in reducing fatal accidents, but could not completely remove the danger itself.
So, it is more accurate to see the 2026 intensive crackdown as a sign that there was some effect, but on-site habits still have not changed enough, rather than saying, 'It did not work, so they are doing it again.' If you look at it this way, the crackdown news feels less like a simple repeat and more like a mid-course check in the process of settling the system.
Who is this system really trying to protect first?
| question | Children | Older people |
|---|---|---|
| Why are they vulnerable? | They may suddenly run, and it is hard for them to accurately judge vehicle speed and distance | Their walking speed is slow and reaction time is long, so it is hard to avoid danger |
| Dangerous places | School zone crosswalks, intersection corners with blocked views | Inside intersections and areas around crosswalks |
| Related numbers | Among car-to-pedestrian accidents in school zones, the share related to blocked views is 37.9%, and 98.5% of those victims are age 12 or younger | In regional analysis, the share of pedestrian deaths age 65 or older was presented as 51.6% |
| Changes from stopping before a right turn | It becomes more predictable that a car will stop once, so there is time to respond to sudden situations | Even with slow walking, people can secure enough time to cross, so the risk of collision goes down |
So what!?
Drivers, first stop before turning right at a crosswalk. It’s easier that way. If you don’t, you could get a 60,000‑won fine.
Pedestrians, don’t just cross the crosswalk without watching right‑turning cars. Always look carefully before you cross.
Let's all walk safely
Korea's driving right-turn culture. It's changing for the better.
We will show you how to live in Korea
Please give lots of love to gltr life