E-scooter, e-bike and PEV laws in South Korea
In South Korea, e-scooters are legal: max 25 km/h, minimum age 16, helmet required.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often; confirm with the local transport authority before riding.
Last researched Oct 12, 2026 · values compiled from published secondary sources; none were checked against the text of a law.
- E-scooters: Based on published secondary sourcesThe sources are listed below; values were not checked against the text of the law.
- E-bikes: Not confirmedThe values here were not taken from a source we read, so we do not show them.
- Other PEVs: Not researchedNo source was checked for this vehicle type yet.
E-scooters
Stand-up electric kick scootersBased on published secondary sources| Status | Legal — Allowed under a specific framework.1 |
|---|---|
| Max speed | 25 km/h1 |
| Power & device limits | Under 30 kg1 |
| Weight limit | 30 kg1 |
| Minimum age | 16 (moped licence age)1 |
| Helmet | Mandatory (since 13 May 2021)1 |
| Where you can ride | Bike lanes first, otherwise road edge; no sidewalks1 |
| Licence & registration | Moped (class 2) or higher driving licence required1 |
| Insurance | — |
| Plate / sticker | — |
| Penalties & alcohol | No helmet KRW 20,000; passenger KRW 40,0001 |
| Notes | A bill to let rental operators verify age/ID instead of a licence was in committee in Apr 2026.1 |
"Unconfirmed" = the source of that value was not recorded, or part of it was not taken from a source; "Not confirmed" = we have no sourced value, so none is shown. Footnote numbers point to the source list below.
Is this information correct for South Korea?
E-bikes
Pedelecs, speed pedelecs and throttle e-bikesNot confirmed| Status | Not confirmed |
|---|---|
| Max speed | Not confirmed |
| Power & device limits | Not confirmed |
| Minimum age | Not confirmed |
| Helmet | Not confirmed |
| Where you can ride | Not confirmed |
| Licence & registration | Not confirmed |
| Penalties & alcohol | — |
| Notes | — |
Other PEVs
Hoverboards, electric unicycles, e-skateboards, SegwaysNot researchedNot researched yet — show details
Other PEVs
Hoverboards, electric unicycles, e-skateboards, SegwaysNot researched| Status | Not researched |
|---|---|
| Max speed | — |
| Power & device limits | — |
| Minimum age | — |
| Helmet | — |
| Where you can ride | — |
| Licence & registration | — |
| Penalties & alcohol | — |
| Notes | Not researched for this country: hoverboards, EUCs, e-skateboards and Segway-type devices were not checked against a national source. |
Frequently asked questions
- Are electric scooters legal in South Korea?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), yes. E-scooters are legal in South Korea under a specific framework. Where you can ride: Bike lanes first, otherwise road edge; no sidewalks.
- What is the e-scooter speed limit in South Korea?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), e-scooters in South Korea are limited to 25 km/h.
- Do you need a helmet to ride an e-scooter in South Korea?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), helmet required (Mandatory (since 13 May 2021)).
- What is the minimum age to ride an e-scooter in South Korea?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), the minimum age is 16.
- Do e-scooters need insurance or a plate in South Korea?
- Based on the sources listed on this page (last researched Oct 12, 2026), moped (class 2) or higher driving licence required.
Sources
- 1.RecordingLaw - South Korea e-scooter laws (2026)RecordingLaw · Secondary · Opened · read Oct 12, 2026
Country entries derived in part from RecordingLaw's e-scooter law guides (recordinglaw.com).