A firefighter conducts rescue operations at the scene of a suspected sudden unintended acceleration accident that occurred in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, in December 2022. (Image provided by Gangneung Fire Department)
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of car accident cases in South Korea claiming sudden unintended acceleration has dropped sharply this year, signaling a shift in public perception toward recognizing driver error as the more likely cause.
According to data obtained by Rep. Jung Choon-saeng of the Rebuilding Korea Party from the National Forensic Service (NFS), only 40 suspected sudden-acceleration cases were analyzed between January and August 2025. That figure is less than half the 96 cases recorded during the same period last year, when total annual claims reached a record 133.
The NFS, which investigates disputed accident causes, said the decline follows greater public awareness that most alleged cases stem from pedal misapplication rather than mechanical failure. “After the 2022 Gangneung incident drew heavy media attention, many assumed sudden acceleration was widespread,” an NFS official said. “But as more analyses showed most involved pedal mistakes, the number of claims naturally decreased.”
Between 2021 and August 2025, the NFS examined 396 such cases — and found no verified instance of sudden acceleration. In 340 cases, or 86 percent, the cause was identified as the driver pressing the accelerator instead of the brake. The rest involved cars too damaged for analysis or missing event data recorder (EDR) information.
The shift in recognition has also boosted interest in anti-pedal-misapplication technology. The devices use front and rear sensors or cameras to detect obstacles and automatically limit acceleration when the gas pedal is pressed in error.
A pilot program by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) last year equipped 60 taxis driven by seniors in Cheonan and Jeongeup with such systems. Nine pedal errors were recorded among three drivers — but in each case, the system prevented a collision.
Encouraged by the results, TS expanded the program this year to 141 drivers aged 65 and older in partnership with the National Police Agency. The latest results are expected later this month.
Experts say the trend underscores how data-driven analysis and technology are helping replace speculation with accountability — reshaping how Korean drivers and regulators approach accident responsibility.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
