Police to Intensively Crack Down on March 1st Motorcycle Racing Gangs: "Offenders Will Be Punished"

The Financial News reported that police will launch an intensive crackdown in response to illegal motorcycle racing on March 1st Independence Movement Day.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced on the 26th that, in cooperation with the Metropolitan and Provincial Autonomous Police Committee and others nationwide, it will conduct a two-day intensive crackdown on motorcycle racing from February 28 to March 1.
According to the KNPA, large-scale group motorcycle racing has largely disappeared, but since 2023 small-scale racing has re-emerged on commemorative days such as March 1st Independence Movement Day and Memorial Day in South Korea, mainly in specific areas, posing a threat to traffic safety.
In response, the KNPA plans to focus enforcement on areas where racing behavior frequently occurs around March 1st Independence Movement Day. Key targets of the crackdown will include group dangerous driving by motorcycles, reckless driving, causing excessive noise, and abrupt lane changes, often referred to as "cutting in."
Police stations in each region will use reports to the 112 emergency police number and analysis of social media to identify in advance the locations and time periods where racing is likely to occur. Patrol cars and police motorcycles will be deployed preemptively to these areas for intensive patrols and on-site enforcement to suppress any racing atmosphere before it escalates.
When racing behavior is detected or reported, the police plan to use all available personnel and equipment—including traffic police, local police, detectives, and mobile patrol units—to strictly crack down on and investigate violations of traffic laws from the very outset of any incident.
However, to prevent casualties that could result from overly aggressive pursuits, in cases where on-the-spot arrests are difficult, officers will first secure evidence and then carry out follow-up investigations. This will include analyzing posts on social networking services (SNS), with the aim of reinforcing the perception that such racing behavior will inevitably be punished.
In addition, in cooperation with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and other relevant agencies, the police will investigate illegal modifications to motorcycles and other vehicles that accompany racing behavior. When illegally modified vehicles are found, both the vehicle owner and the person who carried out the structural modifications will be held legally responsible. Violations subject to administrative fines, such as driving without license plates, will be reported to local governments to ensure that fines are actually imposed.
The police will also introduce special management measures for excessive motorcycle noise, which is one of the most common sources of public discomfort in daily life. Based on analysis of past reports to police stations, they will designate areas where motorcycle noise is frequent and, starting in March, strengthen patrols based at key locations in those areas on weekends and holidays, intervening immediately when violations are observed and stepping up on-site enforcement.
Kim Hoseung, Director General for Community Safety and Traffic at the Korean National Police Agency, said, "On commemorative days such as March 1st Independence Movement Day and Memorial Day in South Korea, we will work with the Metropolitan and Provincial Autonomous Police Committee in each region to draw up enforcement plans tailored to local conditions." He added, "We will continue to manage even everyday nuisance behaviors such as motorcycle noise so that we can foster a proper culture of motorcycle safety."
welcome@fnnews.com Reporter Jang Yu-ha Reporter