๐ Tesla FSD Finally Arrives in Korea: What’s Available Now, What’s Not, and How Big This Really Is Korea becomes the seventh country to unlock Tesla’s supervised Full Self-Driving. Here’s what you need to know. Tesla has officially introduced FSD (Full Self-Driving, supervised version) in Korea, and both tech communities and car enthusiasts have exploded with excitement. After years of anticipation, debates, and regulatory hurdles, Korea is now the seventh country in the world where you can legally activate Tesla’s most advanced driver-assistance software. But what does this really mean for drivers in Korea? And is it as futuristic as it sounds? Let’s break it down. ๐ฐ๐ท What Exactly Is FSD (Supervised) in Korea? https://www.chosun.com/economy/auto/2025/11/12/A6VCPSKLXNEEVOMDXSZGMKKLJU/ Tesla’s FSD in Korea is the same supervised Level 2 system used in the U.S. and Canada. It can: Change lanes on its own Navigate through intersections Respond to traffic lights Handle complicated road geometry Drive on urban roads without explicit navigation points On paper, it looks like autonomous driving. In reality, it’s still Level 2, meaning: ๐ The driver must keep eyes on the road ๐ Hands must be ready to take control ๐ The human driver is legally responsible for anything that happens So while the tech feels futuristic, Tesla makes it clear: this is not autonomous driving — at least not yet. ๐ง Who Can Actually Use FSD Right Now? https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25385026 (Spoiler: Much fewer people than expected) This part surprised a lot of Korean Tesla owners. Right now, only U.S.-made Model S and Model X vehicles equipped with HW4 (Hardware 4) are eligible for the update. Here’s why: โ Most Model 3 and Model Y units in Korea are made in China Shanghai-made Teslas do not support FSD yet because: Hardware differences Regulatory mismatches Certification gaps Tesla’s rollout strategy prioritizes U.S.-built models This means the majority of Tesla drivers in Korea — especially Model 3/Y owners — still cannot use FSD. โ Additional local certification is still ongoing Even with Tesla’s announcement, the rollout has restrictions. Tesla must pass: Safety verification Functional certification Local regulatory approvals which limits the number of eligible vehicles. So while the headline “FSD launches in Korea” is technically true, the actual user base is currently very small. ๐คฏ Early Test Reactions: ‘Surprisingly Smooth’ https://news.nate.com/view/20240430n05203 Despite the limited rollout, the first Korean drivers who tested FSD have shared overwhelmingly positive reactions. Some of the early observations include: Lane changes were natural and fluid Urban navigation handled Korean traffic surprisingly well Acceleration and braking felt more refined than expected Turns at intersections were stable, without aggressive movements Some users described it as “being chauffeured by an invisible professional driver” This is impressive considering that Korean roads are famously complex: Tight urban turns Extremely short merging lanes Narrow backstreets Dense pedestrian traffic Unpredictable motorcycles and delivery scooters Tesla’s FSD still has a lot to learn in this environment, and the company says performance will improve as the system gathers more local data. โ ๏ธ Important Reminder: This Is Still a Supervised System Even if the system feels automated, drivers must understand the limits: You must maintain attention at all times You must be ready to intervene instantly The law considers YOU — not the software — responsible If an accident occurs, Tesla cannot be blamed. This is a critical legal distinction that all users must keep in mind. ๐ Why This Rollout Matters for Korea https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25385026 The arrival of FSD in Korea is a milestone for several reasons: 1. Korea becomes a testbed for complex urban road autonomy Korea’s traffic patterns, road design, and driving culture are very different from those in the U.S.If FSD can perform well here, it shows genuine global adaptability. 2. It pushes local competition Hyundai, Kia, LG, Samsung, and Naver are all investing heavily in autonomous driving.Tesla’s FSD launch will accelerate their development timelines. 3. It increases public awareness and acceptance More Koreans will now be exposed to advanced driver-assistance systems, shifting attitudes about future mobility. 4. It signals pending regulatory evolution Allowing FSD shows that Korean regulators are preparing for the next stage of autonomy — potentially Level 3 and beyond. ๐ What’s Next? Here are the big questions: When will China-made Model 3/Y units get approval? How fast will Tesla improve FSD’s performance on Korean roads? Will Korean regulators open the door to higher-level autonomy? How many Korean drivers will adopt the system once it's widely available? Right now, everything is moving fast — and this rollout is only the beginning. ๐งญ A Small Step, but a Very Significant One Only a small number of people in Korea can use FSD today, but its arrival marks a big shift in Korea’s future mobility landscape. It’s not full autonomy. It’s not widely available. And it still requires careful supervision. But it opens the door to a future where self-driving cars are part of everyday life in Korea — something that felt far away just a few years ago. As more vehicles get certified and the software learns Korean traffic patterns, we can expect rapid improvements. For now, the tech community is watching closely to see how quickly the system evolves on some of the world’s most complex roads. #TeslaFSD #TeslaKorea #FullSelfDriving #TeslaAutonomy #AutonomousDriving #TeslaUpdate #FSDKorea #TeslaModelS #TeslaModelX #HW4 #TeslaTechnology #FutureMobility #SelfDrivingCars #EVTechnology #TeslaNews #SmartDriving #KoreaTech #KoreaEV #TechUpdate #MobilityInnovation #ElonMusk #AutonomousTech #Level2Driving #TeslaFeatures #KoreanRoads #TechInKorea #CarTechnology #EVCommunity #TeslaOwners #RoadSafety
