Shared e-scooters and e-bikes in Korea: the rules (2026)

Shared e-scooters and shared e-bikes are rented the same way, through an app, but the law treats them very differently. An e-scooter is a 'personal mobility device' (PM) and needs a licence; a pedal-assist e-bike counts as a bicycle. Here are the rules and fines.

E-scooter vs e-bike: what's the difference?

Under Korea's Road Traffic Act, a personal mobility device is a light electric vehicle under 30 kg whose motor cuts out at 25 km/h, such as a stand-up e-scooter. App-rented e-scooters fall into this class. A shared pedal-assist e-bike, where the motor only helps while you pedal, is a bicycle, so no licence is needed.

Licence and minimum age

To ride an e-scooter you need at least a Class 2 motorized-bicycle licence (a car licence also counts). That licence can be taken from age 16. The rule has applied since 13 May 2021, and the Constitutional Court dismissed a challenge to it in December 2025. Operators have tightened age checks too: GCOO blocked under-16 rentals from July 2026.

A Korean Class 1 or 2 car licence is enough.
Shared pedal-assist e-bikes need no licence, but each operator sets its own minimum age.

Helmets and fines

E-scooter riders must wear a helmet, and only one person may ride. The main fines are below (as reported for the 2021 Road Traffic Act amendment).

Amounts are the standard fines; they can be higher in places such as school zones.

Violation	Penalty
Riding without a valid licence	₩100,000 fine
No helmet	₩20,000 fine
Two or more people on one scooter	₩40,000 fine
Drink-riding	₩100,000 fine
Refusing a breath test	₩130,000 fine
Child under 13 riding	₩100,000 fine for the guardian
Riding in a Seoul 'no-scooter street'	₩30,000 fine + 15 penalty points

Where you can ride

E-scooters may use bike lanes. Where there is no bike lane, keep to the right-hand edge of the road. Riding on sidewalks is prohibited. Get off and walk the scooter across pedestrian crossings.

Seoul's 'no-scooter streets'

Since 16 May 2025, Seoul has banned personal mobility devices from Hongdae's 'Red Road' (Mapo-gu) and the Banpo academy district (Seocho-gu) between noon and 11 pm. Violations cost ₩30,000 and 15 penalty points, or ₩60,000 and 30 points in a school zone. More streets may be added, so watch for signs.

Who operates shared scooters and e-bikes in 2026

About nine shared-PM companies operate in Korea as of September 2026, and service areas change often. Check the map in each app for the city you're in.

GCOO (G-Bike): operating; also bookable in the Kakao T app since January 2025
SWING: operating; shifting from scooters toward e-bikes and other services; took over Deer's scooter business in 2024
Beam: listed among operators in September 2026 reports
Kickgoing: agreed to merge with the operator of Xingxing in 2024; still running but has left some cities
Elecle (SOCAR): shared e-bikes
Kakao T Bike: shared e-bikes (withdrawn from some cities)
Lime left Korea in June 2022; Tmap Mobility ended its scooters in March 2025.

Can international visitors ride?

Under Article 96 of the Road Traffic Act, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for one year from entry, for the vehicle categories shown on it. That suggests an IDP with motorcycle category A may cover e-scooters, but we could not find an official police interpretation, and whether a sharing app will accept a foreign licence varies by company. The reliable option is a shared pedal-assist e-bike, which needs no licence (SWING's app listing says foreigners can sign up and pay with overseas cards).

Parking and towing

In Seoul, shared scooters left at subway exits, crosswalks, bus stops or on tactile paving get towed, and the towing fee can be passed on to the rider. Park only in the zones shown in the app. Seoul is also pushing an ordinance to tow shared e-bikes (reported September 2026, targeted for 2027).

FAQ

Do I need a licence to ride a shared e-scooter in Korea?

Yes. You need at least a Class 2 motorized-bicycle licence (a car licence counts), available from age 16. Riding without one is fined ₩100,000.

Do shared e-bikes need a licence?

No. Pedal-assist e-bikes are classed as bicycles. Operators still set minimum ages.

What is the fine for not wearing a helmet?

₩20,000 on an e-scooter. Riding two-up costs ₩40,000.

Can I use an International Driving Permit for e-scooters?

An IDP is valid for one year for the categories it lists, but there is no official police guidance for e-scooters and apps differ on accepting foreign licences. A shared e-bike is the safer choice.

Can I ride on the sidewalk?

No. Use bike lanes or the right edge of the road, and walk the scooter across crossings.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28