A view of the “Driver Monitoring System” (DMS) installed on a route bus during a pilot project conducted by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority between July and October last year (photo provided by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority).
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea pushes for wider adoption of Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) to prevent fatigue-related traffic accidents, truck and bus drivers are voicing growing unease over privacy intrusions and cost burdens.
While most drivers and operators acknowledge the need for safer roads, many fear that DMS — which tracks drivers’ facial expressions and attentiveness in real time — could lead to excessive surveillance and misuse of data.
“I understand the intent, but having my face constantly recorded and analyzed feels invasive,” said Ahn, a 42-year-old bus driver in Seoul. Another driver, Kim, who has worked on city routes for 12 years, noted that “we already have multiple cameras inside buses, but real-time monitoring feels like another level of control.”
Truck drivers share similar concerns. “The black box already tracks my speed and location — now they want to monitor my face too,” said Lee, a freight driver in his 50s. “We’re out here to work, not to be watched every minute.”
Some drivers also argue that the system’s alerts could become a distraction. “Frequent warning sounds might actually interfere with concentration,” one long-haul driver said, noting that equipment malfunctions or loud alarms could make driving more stressful, not safer.
Industry groups are equally wary of the financial impact. Small freight operators, many of whom are self-employed, say government subsidies may not fully cover the cost of installation. The Korea Trucking Association has suggested a voluntary distribution program using funds from the association and welfare foundations to ease the burden.
Experts recommend a phased rollout, beginning with large freight vehicles, accompanied by strict privacy guidelines. These would ensure that only essential data are collected, stored temporarily, and never shared with third parties.
To address privacy concerns, some researchers are exploring alternatives to camera-based monitoring. “By measuring heart rate, breathing, and body temperature through the steering wheel, tactile sensors could reduce privacy issues compared to vision systems,” said Go Seung-hwan, a mechanical engineering professor at Seoul National University.
The debate underscores the challenge of balancing technological innovation with personal privacy — a recurring theme in South Korea’s evolving approach to road safety and digital oversight.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
