South Korea Investigates 80 Tesla Drivers for Illegally Activating Full Self-Driving

Investigation into Unauthorized FSD Activations

South Korean authorities have identified 80 Tesla drivers who allegedly activated the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature on their vehicles without proper certification. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confiscated 21 devices used to enable the feature, which connect to the car's CAN bus to bypass regional software locks. Tesla vehicles contain the same underlying computer hardware globally, allowing for such modifications.

Methods of Activation and Concealment

Some suspects purchased ready-made unlock modules from Europe and China, while others, including an IT worker, constructed their own devices using information found on GitHub. The group also shared tips online, including methods to prevent the car from logging FSD activation history, likely to avoid detection by Tesla, which has been actively seeking these unauthorized devices.

Legal Consequences and Safety Concerns

Prosecutors are applying the Motor Vehicle Management Act, which prohibits unauthorized software changes that could compromise vehicle safety. Penalties in South Korea can reach up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won (approximately $15,000). The transport ministry initiated the police investigation in April after confirming safety risks, including potential FSD failures to recognize driving conditions or operate as intended.

Certification Gap and Tesla's Response

The issue stems from a certification gap in South Korea. FSD (Supervised) was introduced in late 2025 but is only approved for US-built Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck units, which are exempt from local safety certification under a Korea-US trade agreement. Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, imported from Giga Shanghai, have not yet passed local certification. Tesla began remotely detecting these unlock devices and disabling FSD access on affected vehicles in April.