South Korea fines Tesla drivers up to $15,000 for illegal FSD unlock

Briefing by News4U · First published 2026-10-30 11:11:24 UTC

Toms Hardware reports that Seoul police have identified 80 Tesla drivers who allegedly installed unauthorized modules to activate Full Self-Driving on vehicles not certified for the feature in South Korea; 21 devices were confiscated. The modules bypass regional software locks by connecting to the car’s CAN bus. Suspects imported units from Europe and China or built their own using online instructions, and some shared tips on erasing activation logs. Prosecutors are applying the Motor Vehicle Management Act, which carries penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of 20 million won (about $15,000). [1]

Sources

1. South Korea clamps down on Tesla drivers for unlocking restricted full self-driving feature, $15,000 fines and prison possible sentences — suspects imported hardware from Europe and China, then traded tips on concealing activation logs

   Toms Hardware · 2026-10-30 10:20:00 UTC · Excerpt

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