An Water Deer Crossing an Ecological Corridor .(Image courtesy of Korea Expressway)
GIMCHEON, April 29, (Korea Bizwire) — As wildlife activity increases in the spring months, South Korea’s highway authority is urging drivers to exercise heightened caution to prevent animal-vehicle collisions, known as roadkill incidents.
The Korea Expressway Corporation said Monday that drivers should be particularly alert during May and June, when wildlife crossings on highways peak. Over the past five years (2020–2024), a total of 5,300 roadkill cases were reported on South Korean expressways. Of these, 1,967 cases — or 37.1 percent — occurred in May and June, with the majority (44.4 percent) happening between midnight and 8 a.m.
Water deer accounted for the overwhelming majority of roadkill victims, involved in 4,426 cases (83.5 percent), followed by raccoon dogs (6.5 percent) and wild boars (5.2 percent). The Corporation explained that the high incidence of water deer collisions is due to the absence of natural predators and the species’ increased movement during the spring mating and foraging seasons.
To minimize risks, the Corporation advises drivers to avoid sudden braking or swerving when encountering animals, and instead use their horn to warn both wildlife and surrounding drivers. Drivers are also cautioned against using high beams at night, as the sudden light can provoke erratic behavior from animals.
In the event of a collision, motorists should activate hazard lights, open the vehicle’s trunk to signal a disabled car, and move to a safe location beyond the guardrails before contacting the Korea Expressway Corporation’s call center for assistance. This procedure helps prevent secondary accidents involving following vehicles.
Water deer accounted for the overwhelming majority of roadkill victims (Image created by ChatGPT)
In efforts to curb roadkill, the Corporation installs approximately 50 kilometers of wildlife fencing each year. To date, 3,123 kilometers of fencing have been deployed nationwide. Expressways are also equipped with AI-based monitoring systems at ecological corridors to track wildlife movement around the clock.
Additionally, the Corporation is advancing ecological restoration projects to create habitats for native wildlife, contributing to a broader environmental recovery strategy.
These initiatives have yielded results: animal-vehicle collisions have steadily declined from a peak of 2,545 cases in 2015 to 783 cases in 2024 — a drop of more than 69 percent.
A Korea Expressway Corporation spokesperson emphasized, “We will continue to expand preventive infrastructure and promote ecological restoration projects to ensure the safety of highway users and protect wildlife.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
