When it applies

📷 You were caught by a camera or unmanned enforcement system.

Common cases:

• 🚨 Speed cameras
• 🚦 Red light cameras
• 🅿️ Illegal parking cameras
• 🚌 Bus-only lane enforcement
• 🧒 School zone unmanned cameras

Key features

• Sent to the car owner (not necessarily the driver)
• ❌ No demerit points
• No police interaction
• Look up & pay at eFine (이파인) — Korea's official traffic fine portal
• 🌐 https://www.efine.go.kr/

👉 Why? Cameras can identify the car (license plate), but they can't always identify who was driving. So fines go to the registered owner first.

3) 범칙금 (Beomchikgeum) — the police fine

When it applies

👮 A police officer stopped you in person and identified the violation.

Common cases:

• 🚦 Running a red light (caught by police)
• 🏁 Speeding (caught by police)
• 📱 Using a phone while driving
• 🪢 Not wearing a seatbelt
• ↔️ Crossing the center line
• ⚠️ Other on-the-spot violations

Key features

• Sent to the driver (the actual person at the wheel)
• ⚠️ Demerit points may be added
• More direct — you're personally responsible
• Also looked up via eFine

👉 This is more serious than gwataeryo because you can't pass the responsibility to anyone else — and demerit points stay on your record.

4) 벌점 (Beoljeom) — Demerit points

This is separate from money. It's a score on your driving record.

Key facts

• Gwataeryo (camera fines): usually no demerit points
• Beomchikgeum (police fines): demerit points often added
• Points stack up over time
• 👉 40+ points = license suspension may apply
• More points → license cancellation

⚠️ For visitors with an IDP: Demerit points are tied to your driving record in Korea. They may not affect your home country license — but they CAN affect your ability to drive in Korea on future visits, and can lead to a Korean driving ban.

5) 🚗 Driving a rental car? Here's how it works

This is the most important section for tourists. Most fines you'll get are camera fines (gwataeryo) — and rental cars have a special process for these.

📷 Camera fine → goes to the rental car company first

The rental car company is the legal owner of the vehicle. So the fine notice goes to them, not you.

How it actually works

1. Camera catches the violation

2. A few days to weeks later → notice sent to rental car company

3. Rental company checks who rented the car that day

4. Company contacts you: SMS, email, or app notification

5. You pay (or the company pays first and charges you)

Common ways the rental company collects from you

• 💳 Payment link sent to your email
• 🔄 Auto-charged to your registered card
• 💰 Deducted from your deposit
• 📋 With an extra "administrative processing fee" added

👉 Important: You usually don't need to visit a police station for camera fines. The rental company handles most of it.

⚠️ But policies differ. Always read your rental contract — some companies charge bigger handling fees than others.

👮 Police fine → YOU pay directly

If a police officer stops you in person:

1. Police pulls you over

2. They identify YOU as the driver

3. They issue a fine notice on the spot

4. YOU look it up and pay (via eFine)

5. Demerit points may be added to your record

The rental car company is NOT involved here. They might confirm your identity to police but that's it.

⚠️ More serious violations (DUI, reckless driving, etc.) can lead to criminal procedures, not just a fine.

6) 🚙 Driving your own car?

Simpler — no middleman:

Rental cars are more complex only because the owner and driver are different people.

7) Quick comparison table

8) How long until the fine arrives?

Korea doesn't always notify you right away.

👉 This means you might already be back home when a fine notice reaches the rental car company. Don't be surprised if you get an unexpected charge weeks later.

9) How to check and pay

🌐 eFine (이파인) — the official site

Korea's official traffic fine portal, run by the National Police Agency.

• Check gwataeryo status
• Check beomchikgeum status
• See recent camera enforcement records
• Pay online

🔗 https://www.efine.go.kr/

⚠️ Foreigner heads-up: The site is mostly Korean and traditionally requires a Korean digital certificate (공인인증서) for full access. For most short-term visitors, letting the rental company handle it is much easier.

What if you don't have a Korean account?

• 🚗 Rental car → let the company process it. They'll charge you and handle the paperwork.
• 🚙 Your own car → you'll need help from a local or use the simpler payment options on the official notice.

10) What happens if you don't pay?

Gwataeryo (camera fine)

• 3% surcharge if you miss the deadline
• Additional surcharge every month after that
• Total fine can grow significantly over time

(Source: Act on the Regulation of Violations of Public Order, Article 24)

Beomchikgeum (police fine)

• After deadline, you may have to pay 1.2× the original amount
• Continued non-payment can escalate to formal criminal procedure

⚠️ For foreigners: Unpaid Korean traffic fines could potentially affect your future visits or cause issues at immigration. Don't ignore them.

11) Can I just hand cash to the police?

No.

Per Korea's Traffic Enforcement Procedures (Article 10), police officers cannot accept cash on the spot.

• Police won't say "Pay me ₩50,000 right now"
• All payments go through official channels only
• 👉 If anyone in uniform asks for cash directly, that's a red flag.

This is especially important for foreigners — there's no "tip" system or on-the-spot payment.

12) Foreigner-specific tips ✈️

1️⃣ The rental company may charge you weeks later

Camera fines arrive late. So you might:

• Get a card charge after returning home
• Receive an email demanding payment
• Have your deposit deducted

👉 Keep an eye on your email and credit card statement for 1–2 months after your trip.

2️⃣ Demerit points can matter more than money

If you got a beomchikgeum, the money isn't the only issue:

• Points stay on your Korean driving record
• Could affect future Korean driving privileges
• Severe cases can lead to a Korean driving ban

3️⃣ Ask before you fly out

When returning the rental car, ask the staff:

"Are there any unpaid fines on this rental?"

In practice, not all violations show up immediately — but asking is still useful. They can flag any known issues and explain their billing process.

4️⃣ Save your rental contract

Keep a copy of the rental agreement and any fine notices the company sends you. If a charge looks unclear, you'll need this to dispute it.

13) Real-life examples

Example 1: Speed camera on Jeju Island 🏝️

• Caught by: 📷 Camera
• Type: Gwataeryo
• First notified: Rental car company
• Your action: Pay through the company's process

Example 2: Caught using a phone by a police officer 📱

• Caught by: 👮 Police
• Type: Beomchikgeum
• Responsibility: You (the driver)
• Result: Demerit points likely added

Example 3: Illegal parking caught by camera 🅿️

• Caught by: 📷 Camera
• Type: Gwataeryo
• For rental: Notice → company → charged to you
• For your car: Notice → directly to you

14) One-line rule

📷 Camera = Gwataeryo = Vehicle-based👮 Police = Beomchikgeum = Driver-based + Demerit points

15) Quick summary 🎯

• Korea splits traffic fines into gwataeryo (camera) and beomchikgeum (police)
• Gwataeryo = car owner pays, no demerit points
• Beomchikgeum = driver pays, demerit points possible
• Rental cars: gwataeryo goes to the rental company first, then to you
• Don't ignore — late payment adds surcharges
• Police can't take cash on the spot — official channels only
• Ask the rental company about unpaid fines before flying home

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