Foreign street racers are driving recklessly on a road. There are several skid marks on the ground, presumably caused by street racers. (screen shot image of an online community BobaeDream)
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – A growing concern over foreign street racers performing dangerous stunts on South Korean roads at night has emerged, with the group brazenly posting videos of their activities and taunting law enforcement on social media.
The issue first gained public attention through recent posts on Bobaedream, an online automotive community, detailing the activities of foreign drift racers operating primarily in industrial areas.
According to community posts, the group has been active since last year, mainly around the industrial complexes of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, with sightings also reported in Hwaseong and Dangjin.
While some Korean nationals are involved, the majority are foreigners, including used car exporters and workers from Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan – some reportedly in Korea on work visas, others staying illegally.
Evidence of their activities appears on Instagram, where videos show drivers performing dangerous stunts at speeds of up to 270 km/h, executing drifts while setting off fireworks, and performing “donuts” that leave prominent skid marks on public roads.
The vehicles used reportedly include deregistered cars, stolen vehicles, and rental cars, with used car exporters allegedly supplying some vehicles. Some videos even show cars without license plates, including newly imported vehicles meant for customer delivery.
The group has developed sophisticated methods to evade law enforcement. They operate in areas without surveillance cameras and maintain separate scout teams to watch for police presence. The racers use messaging apps to warn others with code words like “cops” and disperse immediately when police are spotted.
In a particularly brazen display of defiance, the racers have posted videos mocking police vehicles attempting to catch them. In one Telegram chat, members even shared photos of Ministry of Justice vehicles, requesting them for future gatherings.
The issue gained broader attention after being featured on JTBC’s “Crime Chief” on November 18. Police have reportedly intensified patrols and enforcement efforts, launching investigations to track down the vehicles involved in these illegal activities.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
