As autonomous driving technology increasingly becomes a reality, the automotive industry is undergoing even faster changes. The world of self-driving cars, once only seen in movies, has now reached a stage where it can be realized in our surroundings. In South Korea, specifically, starting in 2026, the legal scope for Level 3 (conditional autonomous driving) technology will be expanded, and specific road application standards will be formalized. It is important to note that while this technology offers safety and convenience, it also brings various legal and technical challenges. Autonomous Driving Level 3 allows the vehicle to take over the driver's role under specific conditions, enabling the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel for certain periods. Primarily intended for low-speed sections of highways, this technology is expected to significantly reduce driver burden in heavy traffic situations. However, Autonomous Driving Level 3 is clearly distinct from Level 4 or Level 5 full autonomous driving, which rely entirely on the system. This is because Level 3 requires the driver to intervene immediately if the system requests a manual takeover. In particular, the South Korean government has begun establishing safety regulations and a legal basis to prepare a legal framework for autonomous driving technology. The core of the 2026 regulatory revision involves two main aspects: first, defining clear liability in the event of an accident, and second, mandating the installation of black boxes and driving data recorders to facilitate accident analysis. These legal provisions are intended to ensure the safety of autonomous vehicles and to clearly distinguish the responsible party in the event of an accident. According to a report by Getcha, if an accident occurs during Level 3 autonomous driving, the manufacturer will be held liable under specific conditions. This signifies a significant change to the existing liability system. Previously, all responsibility for accidents fell on the driver, but under Level 3, manufacturers will bear a certain degree of responsibility for accidents that occur while the autonomous driving system is active. However, drivers also retain important obligations. According to official regulations, in Level 3 autonomous driving, the driver must respond to the system's request for manual takeover and assume control within a minimum of 7 seconds. This 7-second period has been set as the minimum reaction time to prevent traffic accidents, and if the driver fails to fulfill this obligation, accident liability may fall on the driver. The mandatory installation of black boxes and driving data recorders is another key aspect of this regulatory revision. These devices will meticulously record the operating status of the autonomous driving system, the timing of driver intervention, and the vehicle's driving environment, to be used for accurate accident analysis and liability determination in the event of an incident. This is not merely for assigning blame after an accident but is also expected to play a crucial role in accumulating data for continuously improving the safety of autonomous driving technology. The challenge is that these changes impose new burdens on manufacturers. As manufacturers conditionally bear a certain degree of responsibility for accident causes in Level 3, there is a possibility that they could face lawsuits if they cannot sufficiently prove the safety of their systems. This situation will require automotive companies to invest substantial additional costs in research and development (R&D) to meet more complex certification procedures. In particular, testing and verification processes to prove the reliability of autonomous driving systems are expected to become even more stringent. Autonomous driving technology has now emerged as a major industrial concern at the national level, intensifying global competition. The United States and South Korea are particularly noted as leading countries in establishing legal frameworks for autonomous driving technology. In 2026, while South Korea expands the legal scope for Level 3 autonomous driving technology and establishes specific road standards, the U.S. is also introducing a new bill, the 'SELF DRIVE Act 2026 (H.R. 7390),' in the same year, making efforts to strengthen federal-level regulations related to autonomous vehicles. South Korea and the U.S.: Similarities and Differences in Autonomous Driving Regulatory Changes South Korea is approaching this by systematically analyzing accidents through mandatory data recording and setting new safety standards. The core objective is to more clearly define responsibilities between drivers and manufacturers and establish a fair accident investigation system. Information collected via black boxes and driving data recorders will serve as crucial evidence for future improvements in autonomous driving technology safety and the formulation of regulatory policies. In contrast, the U.S
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