Police Implement 'Special Administrative Clemency for Driver's License'... Targeting 1.1 Million People

All Penalty Points Removed
Suspension and Cancellation of Driver's Licenses Also Halted
Excluding Crimes with High 'Blameworthiness' Such as Drunk Driving

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] In line with the government's special pardon, the police will carry out a special administrative penalty reduction, including the deletion of driver's license penalty points. The number of eligible individuals reaches approximately 1.1 million.

The National Police Agency announced on the 29th that, as of midnight on the 31st, it will implement the "2021 Special Reduction of Driver's License Administrative Penalties." The reduction targets 1,118,923 people who incurred driver's license penalty points due to traffic violations or accidents between October 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020, those undergoing license suspension or cancellation procedures, and those in the license acquisition restriction period (disqualification period). A National Police Agency official stated, "The purpose is to alleviate the burden on ordinary citizens, such as livelihood drivers facing difficulties due to driver's license administrative sanctions, and to provide an opportunity for early return to economic activities."

With this special reduction, all penalty points imposed on 1,072,158 individuals will be deleted. Among 4,819 people currently under license suspension or undergoing suspension procedures, the remaining suspension period will be exempted or the suspension process will be halted, allowing immediate driving. Additionally, for 44 individuals undergoing license cancellation procedures, enforcement will be stopped, enabling immediate driving, and 41,902 people in the disqualification period will have the restriction lifted, allowing them to take the driver's license test.

However, even first-time offenders of drunk driving are excluded from the special reduction, and drivers who caused fatal traffic accidents are also excluded to raise awareness and prevent accidents. Furthermore, those involved in hit-and-run accidents causing injury, reckless or retaliatory driving, drugged driving, vehicle-related crimes, obtaining licenses fraudulently or falsely, car theft or robbery, assaulting police officers during enforcement, and other serious traffic violations, as well as those who received pardons within the last three years, are excluded. Moreover, individuals exempted from license cancellation due to this special reduction, and those exempted from license suspension due to joint risky behavior (such as reckless racing) or causing traffic accidents, must complete six hours of traffic safety education conducted by the Road Traffic Authority by February 1 of next year.

Eligibility for the special reduction can be checked on the National Police Agency website or the Police Traffic Civil Service 24 website. Those eligible for special reduction of license suspension or cancellation can collect their driver's licenses at their local police station starting today, but actual driving is permitted only after midnight on the 31st.