How serious is the fine for speeding in a Korean school zone?

Question

I drove through a school zone in Seoul at what I thought was a normal speed. Should I worry about cameras?

Drive This World Editorial · Accepted Answer

Yes, treat school zones in Korea as the **highest-stakes speed limit you will encounter**. Two reasons:

1. **Speed limits drop sharply** — typically to 30 km/h, signposted with prominent yellow-and-red signs and red-painted pavement. Cameras are extremely dense.
2. **민식이법 (the Min-sik Law, 2020)** raised penalties dramatically for school-zone violations involving children. For a fatal crash in a school zone, criminal charges including imprisonment apply — beyond the standard fine.

For a foreign driver in a rental:

- A typical 30-km/h-zone speed-camera fine in 2024 was around ₩90,000 (~US$70) for 10–20 km/h over.
- The fine is sent to the rental company's registered address, which then charges your card with a service fee.
- School-zone hours are typically 08:00–20:00; some are 24/7. The signage states active hours; if no plate, assume 24/7.

Drop to 30 km/h the moment you see the painted pavement, not when you see the speed-limit sign.

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