Why Are Korean Drivers Notoriously Bad? We Explain!

It is no surprise that driving in Korea can be quite an experience, and many foreigners who drive in Korea, and even some Koreans, find Korean drivers to be aggressive or bad at driving. While there have been great efforts to improve the driving habits of Koreans, there are still certain areas that need to be improved. We explore these reasons through our personal experiences.

Image: Driving in South Korea, Photo: https://www.yourkorea.life/

The "Me-First" Mentality on Korean Roads

Thinking of themselves, and not caring for other people, many drivers lack consideration for other drivers and pedestrians. Although, there are zebra crossings in place, and on the driving course, when you take your lessons you are told to slow down and stop, hardly any Korean drivers do. This causes pedestrians to end up waiting for cars to cross. The individual's urgency often trumps collective road etiquette, leading to a "me-first" attitude behind the wheel.

The "Hurry-Hurry" Habit: How "Ppalli Ppalli" Shapes Korean Driving

If you have been in Korea a few days or a few years, this is for sure a term that you will hear very often. The phrase refers to the strong cultural mindset which homes in on speed, efficiency, and getting things done quickly. (Usually because everything is always left to the last minute).

While on the roads, this terminology transforms in chaos, quite literally. This is due to the impatience of other drivers and the and very aggressive lane changes, tailgating and sometimes running yellow and red lights.

Drivers often prioritize getting to their destination as fast as possible, sometimes at the expense of courtesy or strict adherence to traffic laws. Even taxi drivers playing a game of Mario race car, as the sat navigation flashes red (due to speeding) because the driver is simply travelling to fast.

Navigating the Maze: How Density and Road Design Impact Korean Driving

Seoul and Busan are two of the largest cities in Korea, and as a result, they are heavily populated. This means that heavy traffic and congestion often play a part in the way that drivers navigate around the roads. This is why our writer, Lewis Hooper, decided to live in Daegu, which is the fourth largest city and although it is still really big, it is much better to drive around.

In Korea, some older areas of the cities or towns might have some changes in road designs, which might also be less intuitive or have quirks (like sudden lane merges or complex intersections) that can contribute to confusion and dangerous situations, especially for unfamiliar drivers.

In our upcoming article, we will talk about how the Korean driving test is easier than in the UK, in contrast to where it is much more difficult. Could this be attributed to why Korean drivers are so bad?

Lenient Enforcement: A Driver's Disregard

In the past, there has been the perception among many that the traffic law enforcement for small accidents on Korean roads was less strict; however, things are slowly changing. This can lead drivers to believe that they can get away with aggressive driving and that they are immune to minor violations without consequences, which simply reinforces risky driving habits. We want to note that it is always up to the individual driver to follow driving laws and regulations, and not all Koreans drive like this.

Have you tried driving on Korea's roads? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

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