Tesla Korea head tells lawmakers company will seek verification of FSD function
In short
Seo Young-deuk (서영득), head of Tesla Korea, told the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit on October 8 that the company would cooperate with the transport ministry to have its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) function verified. US-made Teslas can use FSD in South Korea under the Korea-US free trade agreement, while China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars cannot. Bloter reported that the ministry maintains FSD does not meet domestic safety standards and has no plan to test it.
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Seo Young-deuk (서영득), head of Tesla Korea, told the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee during its audit on October 8 that the company would seek verification of its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) function. Asked by Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Jong-tae (장종태) whether it planned to use a special provision in the motor vehicle rules, Seo said Tesla Korea would "actively cooperate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport so that it can be verified," Yonhap and Asia Economy reported. Bloter, citing audit material distributed by Jang's office, reported that Seo said the company would review the necessary procedures and pursue a formal approval application. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Jang cited Article 114-2 and Article 114(15) of the rules on the performance and standards of motor vehicles and parts, which allow foreign safety standards recognised by the minister to be applied, Bloter reported. The outlet said no application timetable has been set, and that it remains to be confirmed which foreign standard Tesla Korea would cite and whether the exception could cover China-made vehicles. [ 1 ]
US-made Teslas can use FSD in South Korea under the Korea-US free trade agreement. Citing data Tesla Korea submitted to Jang's office, Bloter reported 238,968 Teslas registered as of end-September, of which 53,477 (22.4%) can use FSD and 185,491 (77.6%) cannot: 183,407 China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars and 2,084 US-made Model S and Model X cars with Hardware 3. At the hearing, Seo said about 45,000 of about 230,000 vehicles can use FSD, according to Yonhap and Asia Economy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Seo said cars had driven more than 100 million km using FSD and that there had been minor accidents but no significant serious accidents reported. Bloter, citing Tesla Korea's submission, reported 30,303 vehicles actually using FSD with 91.8 million km driven and two confirmed related accidents, both classified as minor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Bloter reported that the ministry maintains FSD does not meet domestic safety standards, has no record of testing or verifying it and no plan to do so, and has not judged whether its safety has been verified. Bloter quoted Seo as saying the ministry had never formally investigated or requested data on FSD safety; Yonhap and Asia Economy quoted him as saying Tesla Korea had not formally requested any safety test from the ministry or related agency. Jang demanded the ministry start safety verification immediately and decide before the comprehensive audit whether the exception can be used. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
At the same hearing, Cho In-cheol (조인철), head of BYD Korea's passenger car division, was questioned over concerns that customer data could pass to the Chinese government. He said the company would strictly comply with Korea's personal information protection law, that data transferred abroad ultimately goes to headquarters in Shenzhen, and that to his knowledge headquarters has no authority to send remote commands to cars in Korea. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
According to Tesla Korea data cited by Bloter, about 77.6% of Teslas registered in South Korea cannot use FSD, most of them China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars. Bloter noted that stating an intention to apply is separate from actually filing, and that the ministry's response to any application will be the key issue.
Key facts
- Tesla Korea head Seo Young-deuk testified at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Asked by Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Jong-tae (장종태) about using a special provision of the vehicle rules, Seo said Tesla Korea would actively cooperate with the transport ministry to get FSD verified. [ 2 , 3 ]
- US-made Tesla models can use supervised FSD in South Korea under the Korea-US free trade agreement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- According to Tesla Korea data cited by Bloter, 53,477 of 238,968 registered Teslas (22.4%) could use FSD as of end-September. [ 1 ]
- Seo said about 45,000 of about 230,000 vehicles can use FSD and that cars have driven more than 100 million km with it. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Bloter reported the transport ministry has no record of FSD tests or verification and no plan for them. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Seo Young-deuk said Tesla Korea would pursue verification of FSD with the transport ministry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- US-made Tesla models can use FSD in South Korea under the Korea-US free trade agreement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Seo said there had been minor accidents involving FSD but no significant serious accidents reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
- BYD Korea's Cho In-cheol (조인철) said the company would strictly comply with Korea's personal information protection law. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many Teslas in South Korea can use FSD. Bloter, citing Tesla Korea data, reported 53,477 of 238,968 vehicles; Yonhap and Asia Economy quoted Seo as saying about 45,000 of about 230,000.
- How far cars have driven using FSD in South Korea. Seo said more than 100 million km according to Yonhap and Asia Economy; Bloter, citing Tesla Korea data, reported 91.8 million km by 30,303 vehicles.
- When Tesla Korea will file an application and whether it will be approved. Bloter reported that no specific timetable or likelihood of approval has been set.
- Which foreign safety standard Tesla Korea would rely on, and whether the exception can apply to China-made cars. Bloter said this needs further confirmation.