South Korean Police Investigate 80 Tesla Drivers for Illegal FSD Unlock, Seize 21 Hardware Modules
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has identified 80 Tesla drivers who used CAN bus hardware to illegally activate restricted Full Self-Driving features, facing potential prison time or $15,000 fines.
According to Tom's Hardware, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has identified 80 Tesla drivers suspected of using unauthorized hardware to force-enable Full Self-Driving (FSD) on vehicles not cleared for the feature. The police reported confiscating 21 device modules used to switch on the feature. These unlock modules connect to the car’s CAN bus (the internal network linking electronic control units) to bypass the regional software lock that keeps FSD disabled. This is technically feasible because Tesla builds the same computer into every car, regardless of local feature approval.
Suspects imported ready-made units from Europe and China or built their own. One IT worker constructed a device using information found on GitHub, suggesting a low barrier to entry for such modifications. The group also shared tips online on how to conceal activation logs to avoid detection by Tesla. Under South Korea's Motor Vehicle Management Act, unauthorized software changes that could affect vehicle safety are illegal, carrying penalties of up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won (approximately $15,000).
The crackdown stems from a certification gap in Tesla's Korean market rollout. Tesla began offering FSD (Supervised) in South Korea in late 2025, but only on US-built Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck units, which skip certain local safety certifications under the Korea-US free trade agreement. Model 3 and Model Y vehicles imported from Giga Shanghai have yet to pass these requirements. South Korea's transport ministry first flagged suspicious activations to police in April, with officials confirming safety risks including potential failure to recognize driving conditions correctly.