Calls to require special license plates for repeat drunk drivers are gaining momentum again. While countries abroad have curbed reoffending with tough measures such as public disclosure of identities and vehicle sales, Korea has seen recidivism rates hold steady despite repeated tightening of penalties.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on the 10th, the proportion of repeat offenders among those caught for drunk driving rose slightly from 42.2% in 2022 to 43.8% in 2024. Over the past decade, the rate has failed to break free from the 40% range and has hardly declined. By age group, those in their 50s and 60s recorded the highest share of repeat offenses at 61%, with men making up an overwhelming majority.
Countries abroad are responding to drunk driving with far tougher measures than Korea. Australia publishes the driver's name, age, license plate number and even blood alcohol concentration on the front page of local newspapers, imposing public disgrace. It also separately applies a "zero tolerance" principle for novice drivers, who may only drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0%.
New Zealand goes so far as to sell off the vehicles of drunk drivers. After deducting fines, only the remaining amount is returned to the driver, and even if they buy a new car with that money, registration itself is banned for one year, effectively preventing them from driving.
Norway suspends licenses for drunk driving when the blood alcohol concentration exceeds just 0.02%, and permanently revokes licenses for those caught two or more times. It also imposes three weeks of detention and hard labor, making normal social life difficult after punishment. Finland combines this with a penalty that confiscates a full month's salary from drunk drivers, dealing an economic blow.
The core of the "special license plate" argument that has resurfaced in Korea is its deterrent effect. The idea is to require drivers who have had their licenses reissued after revocation to attach differently colored plates for a certain period, making police enforcement easier and making drivers themselves conscious of others' eyes. Similar bills have been proposed several times in the National Assembly, but failed to pass amid concerns over human rights violations and double jeopardy.
Both the Ministry of Justice and the Korean National Police Agency have expressed negative positions, saying, "Ordering separate measures after criminal punishment and administrative disposition have already ended could constitute additional disadvantage." Another obstacle cited is the question of effectiveness, as vehicles are often shared with family members, meaning sanctions would not be limited only to the repeat offender.
