Special Inspection on Illegal Unlicensed Rental Car Leasing for 100 Days After Suneung

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to strengthen driver qualification verification to eradicate unlicensed rental car rentals after the college entrance exam, conduct joint special inspections with related agencies, and promote safety management enhancement measures for car rental businesses.

As of July this year, the number of rental cars has exceeded 1 million, with the market size increasing by more than 10% annually. Along with the increase in rental cars, traffic accidents involving unlicensed rental cars are also rising, and cases of rental car rentals and accidents involving minors continue to occur.

The number of unlicensed accidents and fatalities has been increasing from 353 cases and 8 deaths in 2017 to 366 cases and 3 deaths in 2018, and 375 cases and 4 deaths in 2019.

By age group, adult cases increased by 22% from 191 in 2015 to 234 in 2019, while minor cases increased by 69% from 83 to 141 during the same period.

Accordingly, to enable more convenient and safer rental car rentals and use, measures such as strengthening rental car safety management during the student safety special period, enhancing responsibility for identity theft and unqualified drivers, and strengthening safety management for rental businesses will be promoted.

First, to prevent unlicensed rental car driving by high school students during the 100 days after the college entrance exam (December 2020 to February 2021), driver qualification verification will be strengthened.

During the intensive management period, rental car companies must compare and verify not only the driver's license but also the resident registration card before renting. Compliance will be thoroughly guided and inspected by local governments.

The Ministry of Education will provide education at frontline schools on traffic safety, including causes and prevention methods of car accidents, as well as criminal punishment regulations such as imprisonment for up to one year or fines up to 3 million won for unlicensed driving.

Joint special inspections with related agencies will also be conducted on companies that rent rental cars to unlicensed drivers resulting in traffic accidents.

System improvements to prohibit and punish identity lending and brokerage for rental car rentals and to further strengthen companies' responsibility for driver qualification verification will be promptly promoted.