The government of Korea sometimes seizes the passports and blocks the departure from Korea of foreigners involved in commercial disputes. In such circumstances, the U.S. Government will re-issue a passport to an American citizen who applies for one. But the Korean exit ban will remain in effect, preventing departure. Although South Korean roads are well-paved, traffic lights function, and most drivers comply with basic traffic laws, Korea has one of the highest traffic death rates in the world. Excessive speed, frequent lane changes and running red lights are common, and are major contributors to traffic accidents.
City streets are subject to severe gridlock, and even country roads can be highly congested.
Aggressive bus drivers and weaving motorcyclists add additional risks. In any accident involving an automobile and a pedestrian or motorcycle, the driver of the automobile is presumed to be at fault. Foreigners often complain that they are automatically considered at fault in any accident, simply because they are foreign. It is not uncommon for onlookers to take the side of the Korean party in a traffic accident, to the point of moving the vehicles before police arrive to change the appearance of fault. Police investigations of traffic accidents usually involve lengthy waits at police stations.