In this blog post, I’d like to discuss the social perceptions, traffic conditions, and institutional challenges faced by motorcycle riders in South Korea, as well as the joy and happiness they experience.
The Meaning of Motorcycles and Riders
“Motorcycle” is a common term used to refer to both motorized bicycles and two-wheeled motor vehicles; it is also called a “motorcycle” or “bike.” It’s a word familiar to everyone. Most people have probably ridden on the back of a family member’s or friend’s motorcycle at least once. Some may have ridden on the back of a police motorcycle when running late for the College Scholastic Ability Test, while others may have ridden their grandfather’s scooter in the countryside. In South Korea’s complex traffic environment, motorcycles are already deeply embedded in our daily lives. This means that there are motorcycle riders right in your neighborhood.
In South Korea, two-wheeled vehicles with an engine displacement of 125cc or less are legally classified as motorized bicycles, and their licensing system is separate from that of two-wheeled motor vehicles exceeding 125cc. They are also referred to as “motorcycles” or “bikes.”
The dictionary definition of a “rider” is a person who rides a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, or similar vehicle. However, what I want to discuss today goes beyond that dictionary definition. To me, a “rider” is a driver who is equipped with the necessary safety gear for operating a two-wheeled vehicle and rides it as a serious recreational activity. A “two-wheeled vehicle” generally refers to a motorcycle with an engine displacement exceeding 125cc, and a Class 2 Small Vehicle License is required to operate it.
You’ve probably seen them at least once. I’m talking about the groups you see at bus stops on weekends—wearing helmets, leather jackets, sturdy boots, and gloves—heading off somewhere together. Didn’t the motorcycles they’re riding look different from the ones you see around town—bigger, with thicker tires, and a more imposing appearance? They are the riders. I, too, am one of them.
Are riders and street racers the same people?
What did you think when you saw them? Rather than thinking they looked cool or that you’d like to ride one yourself, your first thought was probably that they were noisy and annoying. Some of you might have even thought they were street racers. But think about it one more time. What exactly is a street racer? Street racers and riders are completely different concepts.
A “speed gang” refers to a group of people who enjoy driving cars or motorcycles recklessly. To give a simple example: have you ever seen a group of high school students late at night riding motorcycles without license plates, without any proper safety gear, and routinely running red lights? They travel in groups, blocking all lanes to prevent cars from passing or driving against traffic as a group—engaging in extremely dangerous behavior that causes serious harm to other drivers. These are the so-called “reckless riders.” In contrast, riders enjoy their hobby while abiding by the law, maintaining order, and making every effort not to harm others.
There is also a famous incident in which a rider was treated as if he were a street racer. It’s a story still talked about among riders today: a rider riding on a public road was struck and killed by a car driven by an elderly woman. At the police station, the woman reportedly stated that she thought it was okay to run over and kill street racers, and even after the police told her this was a mistaken belief, she refused to admit it until the very end.
I want to make it clear that the notion that South Korean riders drive dangerously like street racers is a prejudice. The image of street racers—once hailed as a symbol of rebellion in the 1990s—has persisted incorrectly to this day, causing even law-abiding riders to suffer as a result. As is the case with any group today, motorcyclists are highly self-regulating due to this perception. Even on group tour days, participants meticulously check each other’s licenses and safety gear, and anyone found lacking is excluded from the ride. Furthermore, the larger the group, the more they strive to avoid illegal activities and adhere to speed limits.
The Traffic Environment Faced by Motorcyclists in South Korea
South Korea is a country where there is very little consideration for motorcycles. In the United Kingdom, for example, there are many campaigns emphasizing consideration for riders. You can even find public service announcements urging car drivers to be considerate of riders. The principle that two-wheeled vehicles should be given priority over four-wheeled vehicles, and pedestrians over two-wheeled vehicles, is a fundamental tenet of traffic safety. However, drivers in South Korea often fail to fully understand this. When an accident occurs, there are times when car drivers—putting aside whether the rider is injured—disregard them simply because they are young and riding a motorcycle, or because they are on a smaller vehicle than their own; they treat them like reckless street racers and hurl insults at them.
When riding a motorcycle, car drivers can often feel very threatening; there are even instances where they force their way into your lane while you’re changing lanes, even though you’re already occupying the lane. Most car drivers are not very aware of motorcycles; because they lack riding experience, they do not fully understand how motorcycles behave on the road and struggle to judge distances accurately. The fact that car drivers sometimes drive recklessly is not necessarily a reflection of their personality or driving style, but can also stem from a lack of understanding of how motorcycles move.
Do Korean riders really drive dangerously? Statistics previously released by the Korea Road Traffic Authority showed that the elderly accounted for a high proportion of fatalities in motorcycle accidents, demonstrating that motorcycle accidents cannot be explained solely by reckless driving by young riders. In particular, past statistics showed that the proportion of fatalities among riders aged 65 and older was significantly higher than the OECD average. Taking these factors into account, it can be concluded that the situation where older adults—who choose motorcycles as a convenient mode of transportation—lack adequate protection from automobiles, combined with driving conditions on rural national highways, contributed to accidents and fatalities. However, these past statistics should not be generalized to reflect the driving characteristics of all riders in South Korea today.
Circuit and Motorsports Infrastructure Needed for Riders
To safely enjoy the thrill and speed of riding without causing harm to other drivers, it is advisable to use dedicated circuits. However, in the past, South Korea’s circuit infrastructure was insufficient, and the number of circuits available for motorcycles was very limited. At that time, Taebaek Racing Park was considered the primary option, but its distance and high costs made it a significant burden for the average rider to enjoy. As a result, many South Korean riders sought out winding mountain roads to practice “winding”—riding by leaning their motorcycles left and right along twisting paths.
However, the situation has changed from the past. The Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, now hosts motorcycle sessions, track days, and riding schools. Therefore, the previous assertion that Taebaek Circuit was the only place in South Korea where one could ride a motorcycle is no longer accurate. In fact, the Korea International Circuit continues to host motorcycle and car sessions, as well as motorcycle track days, through 2026.
While riders in South Korea seek out winding mountain roads to enjoy riding, neighboring Japan has established a relatively diverse motorsports and riding infrastructure, fostering a culture where riders enjoy using circuits. I once met a Japanese rider during a long-distance tour to Pocheon. He rode a big naked-style motorcycle, and as we chatted in my broken Japanese, it became clear he couldn’t understand why Korean riders enjoyed riding on winding public roads. After some difficult communication, we finally managed to convey that it was because there weren’t enough circuits, to which he replied that he found it truly unfortunate.
The F1 Grand Prix, currently underway, is one of the world’s most famous motorsports events and has established itself as a flagship competition in the sport. However, it is also true that in South Korea, a lack of interest in and infrastructure for motorsports has caused difficulties for athletes and racers alike. You can even see people pointing fingers at racers, treating them as if they were reckless street racers. It’s a well-known story among motorsports enthusiasts that Choi Dong-gwan and Jo Hang-dae—two of South Korea’s top motorcycle racers—had to juggle their racing careers with jobs delivering engine oil and providing courier services due to this harsh public perception and lack of interest. Their story was even featured in the EBS documentary ‘Rivals’. This public mindset could potentially hinder the development of motorsports.
Can the way riders are viewed ever change?
My hope is that public perception of riders in Korea will shift, even just a little. I hope people will move beyond viewing those who ride motorcycles as mere hooligans and instead see them as drivers in their own right. I, too, am enduring many judgmental stares. Not long ago, a comment made by my girlfriend’s father drove another huge nail into my heart. Whenever people hear that I ride a motorcycle, they click their tongues in disapproval, and no matter where I go, motorcycles are treated with less respect than cars. Even when I go shopping at a department store, all I hear is that there’s no parking space for motorcycles. Yet in Japan, just across the bridge, motorcycle parking lots are a common sight. If only people showed a little consideration, I could ride with a much better sense of satisfaction.
There are also clear institutional issues. Past regulatory environments, such as restrictions on two-wheeled vehicles on car-only roads, have influenced social perceptions of two-wheeled vehicles and the environment in which they are used. As a result, the image of two-wheeled vehicles has, to some extent, become fixed as that of low-displacement scooters cruising around neighborhoods. There is a need to expand opportunities for riders of high-performance motorcycles to ride in safe circuit environments rather than enjoying speed and performance on public roads. The government, too, must make significant efforts—such as strictly enforcing laws against illegal activities, systematizing licensing and training, and improving road systems and parking infrastructure. Only then will healthy demand for motorcycles and the related infrastructure grow, will four-wheeled vehicle drivers become more considerate, and will riders, in turn, be able to enjoy a safer and more enjoyable biking lifestyle.
What It Means to Live as a Rider
Even in such an unfavorable environment for motorcycles, living as a rider brings me great happiness. When I ride along National Route 6 heading east in the early morning, the red sun rises right before my eyes on the horizon. It’s not an experience you get to have very often—feeling your heart race as you gaze at such a breathtaking view while the wind blows against your entire body. The feeling of leaning your motorcycle into a curve and feeling the lateral G-force—the lateral acceleration divided by the acceleration due to gravity—with your whole body is truly exhilarating.
However, to become “one such rider” who experiences that happiness and joy, there are so many psychological hurdles to overcome. I hope that readers of this article will start thinking differently about the riders they pass by, even from this moment on. They are neither hooligans nor reckless speeders. Hidden inside their helmets, they are simply spending incredibly happy moments with their bikes.
