Gwangju City Abolishes Car License Plate Seals After 63 Years

Abolition of the Automobile License Plate Sealing System After 63 Years
Convenience for Citizens Increases as Reissuance and Return Procedures Are Simplified
No More Fines for Missing Seals; Owners May Use Their Own Bolts

Gwangju City Hall exterior view.

The city of Gwangju announced on the 17th that, in accordance with the revision of the Automobile Management Act, the automobile license plate sealing system will be abolished starting from the 21st. This marks the end of the system after 63 years since its introduction in 1962 to prevent automobile theft and license plate forgery or alteration.

The abolition of the license plate sealing system has been suggested repeatedly, as advances in technology now allow for real-time detection of stolen or altered license plates, and unnecessary social costs have arisen from the issuance and reissuance of seals.

With the revision of the Automobile Management Act, the inconvenience of having to visit the local district office to reissue a license plate after seal damage or to return the seal when deregistering a vehicle will be eliminated. In addition, fines and penalties for operating a vehicle without a seal will also be abolished.

After the law takes effect, there will be no separate regulations regarding seals, so if the owner does not wish to attach a seal, they may purchase and use their own bolts. However, the existing sealing method may still be used to prevent bolts from loosening.

Jung Junho, head of the Traffic Operations Division, stated, "With the abolition of the sealing system, the simplification of automobile registration procedures will greatly reduce inconvenience for citizens. For more detailed information, please contact the Gwangju Traffic Operations Division for guidance."