South Korea: New passenger cars produced from 2029 will be equipped with anti-acceleration misstep systems

On October 23, the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that starting in 2029, all newly produced small passenger cars and small commercial vehicles in the country must be equipped with an anti-acceleration system to reduce traffic accidents caused by unintended acceleration. According to the Korea Herald, under the South Korean government's plan to revise automotive safety standards, this regulation will apply to passenger vehicles produced or imported from January 2029. When the vehicle detects an obstacle 1 to 1.5 meters in front of or behind it while stationary, if the driver accidentally presses the accelerator pedal, the system must limit the engine's output power. The South Korean government plans to extend these requirements to vans, trucks, and special vehicles under 3.5 tons starting January 2030. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also stated that new electric vehicles will be required to install battery life indicators to help drivers understand the status of the onboard battery in a timely manner. According to officials from the ministry, allowing consumers to monitor the actual status of the battery in real-time will help enhance confidence in electric vehicles and contribute to "promoting the development of the battery remanufacturing and recycling industry."