Seoul Police Launch Major Crackdown on ‘Selfish Driving’ to Ease Rush Hour Gridlock
Seoul authorities conducted a massive enforcement operation on April 7, 2026, targeting aggressive driving behaviors such as illegal lane-cutting and intersection blocking to reduce severe congestion during the morning commute.
The city-wide initiative deployed a significant police presence, including 195 traffic officers, 20 traffic mobile units, and eight traffic motorcycles. Officers focused on notorious bottlenecks where “selfish driving” frequently disrupts traffic flow, including the Naejadong Intersection, the area in front of Yonsei University on Seongsan-ro, the Sincheon Interchange, and the Cheongdam Ramp entry points. The operation aimed not only to penalize offenders but to foster a fundamental shift in driver consciousness to prevent persistent rush-hour delays.
One of the primary focal points was the Yangjae IC, where an eight-lane road was completely saturated with vehicles. Between 8:00 a.m. And 9:00 a.m. On April 7, a team of 18 police officers and five model drivers intercepted 17 vehicles for illegal cutting. The violators included 10 passenger cars, three taxis, three trucks, and one 45-seat commuter bus. In some instances, the volume of violations was high, with reports of three vehicles caught cutting in just five minutes.
Under Article 23 of the Road Traffic Act, drivers caught cutting into traffic were issued fines of 30,000 KRW. The enforcement sparked frustration among some commuters. One driver, who was stopped even as attempting to merge into the highway entrance, claimed the move was necessary to avoid a truck following an accident behind them. Others expressed indignation, asking, “Why only me?” and arguing that other vehicles were performing the same maneuvers without being stopped.
The crackdown highlighted a broader trend of commuter desperation, with some drivers admitting they were simply “too busy commuting” to follow traffic laws. In other cases, blocking intersections resulted in obstructing buses, leading to immediate citations.
City-wide, the operation was extensive, with some reports indicating as many as 358 violations recorded within a single hour. This aggressive policing move underscores the city’s commitment to eradicating “selfish” driving habits that compromise road safety and efficiency for the general public.
