▲ Kim Pil-soo, Professor, Department of Future Automotive Engineering, Daelim University

Preemptive Measures Essential for Comprehensive Improvement of Outdated Motorcycle Culture

Approximately 400 motorcycle fatalities annually… One death per day
The issues of reckless motorcycle gangs and the delivery industry must be approached as matters concerning youth and the improvement of the delivery sector.

Domestic automobile culture has undergone significant development.

The number of traffic accident fatalities has also dropped from 10,000 in the past to 2,600–2,700 currently.

The spread of a culture where both drivers and pedestrians are careful, considerate, and yield is considered very positive.

However, the number of deaths is still relatively high, and with approximately 5 child deaths occurring annually, it can be said that further efforts are needed.

The problem of drunk driving is still significant.

Given that more than half of all drunk drivers are repeat offenders, how to improve this situation has become an important task.

Repeat drunk driving starting October 2024While the installation of a device to prevent drunk driving and stop the car from starting is positive, the lenient culture toward drunk drivers is a serious disqualifying factor.

It appears that strong sanctions, such as aggravated punishment for drunk drivers causing accidents in countries like the UK, are necessary.

In particular, it means that the fact that diminished capacity due to alcohol consumption is considered a mitigating factor must clearly be reformed and set an example through strict punishment.

Among the various aspects of transportation culture today, the motorcycle sector is still the most underdeveloped and backward.

As I always emphasize, the domestic motorcycle industry has already collapsed, with Japanese and Chinese products dominating the market and almost no domestic products remaining.

We can discuss the potential of motorcycle culture, but it is also underdeveloped.

The domestic motorcycle culture is in such a state that not a single system—whether regarding registration, licensing, maintenance, insurance, inspection, or scrapping—is functioning properly.

The motorcycle traffic culture is also the most underdeveloped, to the point where riders ignore sidewalks, roadways, and traffic signals.

It appears that although the world's fastest delivery culture is thriving due to the development of quick service culture, regulations are not being followed because relatively fast movement is required.

The number of motorcycle fatalities is estimated at about 400 per year, meaning more than one person dies every day.

They mock motorcycle riders by calling them ‘the injured and those who will be injured,’ and even refer to them as ‘the dead and those who will die.’

The government and the National Assembly previously held seminars on motorcycle improvement policies, but they have since turned a blind eye, and no such seminars have been held for several years.

Since it is an area that does not generate votes, it is ignored and disregarded. It exists.

Recently, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Police Agency, the main government departments responsible, have been making various suggestions to improve the serious situation regarding motorcycle operation, including expanding license plates and strengthening rear speed enforcement cameras.

Of course, they are also considering policies regarding the installation of front license plates, but it seems they are observing the situation.

While the policies currently being implemented are expected to yield results, they are piecemeal solutions, so it is hoped that improvements will be made to the entire motorcycle industry from a broader perspective.

As mentioned earlier, given the significant overall problems in the two-wheeled vehicle sector, I hope that measures for comprehensive improvement will be implemented proactively.

The argument is that reckless motorcycle gangs should be approached as a "youth problem" rather than a "motorcycle problem," and that the systemic issues of the delivery industry should be approached as a "problem of improving the delivery sector" rather than a "motorcycle problem."

Just like ordinary automobiles, motorcycles are a product of civilization, so it can be said that how well they are operated depends on us humans.

While developed countries naturally include motorcycles in comprehensive automobile improvement plans, we are proceeding with them excluded, which means we can be said to have degenerated into a nation severely lacking a motorcycle culture.

There must be an opportunity for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the responsible department, and the National Police Agency, together with the National Assembly, to work together to improve the entire motorcycle industry. Rather than fragmentary improvements, I hope that an advanced Korean model for motorcycles will be established by reviewing the overall limitations that have already been revealed and referring to examples from developed countries.