E-Scooters, Motorcycles and Bicycles

🛴What a personal mobility device is

In Korea, a personal mobility device (PM) is a type of moped whose motor cuts out at 25 km/h or more and that weighs under 30 kg. E-scooters, self-balancing two-wheelers and bicycles that move on motor power alone fall into this group.

Under the Road Traffic Act, personal mobility devices are grouped with bicycles as 'bicycles, etc.' and treated as vehicles, not pedestrians. They must follow vehicle rules on signals, where to ride and the ban on drunk driving.

An e-bike whose motor only assists while you pedal is classed as a bicycle if it meets the legal standards, and needs no licence. A type that runs on a throttle alone without pedalling may count as a personal mobility device or a moped.

🪪Licence and age

Since 13 May 2021, riding a personal mobility device requires a moped licence or higher. Holders of class 1 or class 2 ordinary, class 1 large and class 2 small licences may also ride. The moped licence can be obtained from age 16, so in practice under-16s cannot ride.

Riding without a licence is unlicensed driving subject to a fine, and if a child under 13 rides, the guardian is given a penalty charge. Sharing services also require you to register your licence in the app.

⛑️Rules while riding

• Always wear a helmet.
• E-scooters and self-balancing two-wheelers carry only one rider. Two people riding together easily lose balance and can be ticketed.
• Do not ride after drinking. Both drunk riding and refusing a test are punished.
• At night or in tunnels, turn on the front and rear lights; reflective clothing makes you easier to see.
• Do not look at your phone while riding or block out surrounding sounds with earphones.

🛣️Where to ride

You must not ride on the pavement. Use a bicycle road if there is one; if not, keep to the right edge of the roadway. Injuring a pedestrian while riding on the pavement makes you liable as a vehicle and can be treated severely.

To be protected as a pedestrian at a crosswalk, get off and walk the device across. Riding across means you are treated as a passing vehicle and are hard to protect as a pedestrian.

For car drivers, personal mobility devices can suddenly enter the lane or hide in blind spots. Check the right edge once more before turning right or changing lanes.

🏍️Moped vs. motorcycle licences

Motorcycles and mopeds may not use expressways or motor-vehicle-only roads in Korea. Both the rider and any passenger must wear a helmet.

• Moped licence: two-wheelers up to 125 cc (electric: rated output up to 11 kW) and personal mobility devices. Age 16 or older.
• Class 2 small licence: all two-wheelers including motorcycles over 125 cc, plus mopeds. Age 18 or older.
• Class 1 or class 2 ordinary licence: you can ride mopeds but not motorcycles over 125 cc.

🚲Bicycle rules

In Korea, bicycles use bicycle roads or, where there are none, the right edge of the road. Riding on the pavement is generally banned, with exceptions for children, older people and people with physical disabilities, where signs allow it, and where the roadway cannot be used because of works. Even then, ride slowly on the roadway side of the pavement and stop if you get in pedestrians' way.

Drunk cycling is also banned, and wearing a helmet is a legal duty. Walk your bicycle across crosswalks and do not ride two or more abreast.

💬FAQ