"How Will Compensation Be Handled for Autonomous Vehicle Accidents?"... Government-Wide Task Force to Establish Standards This Year Participation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Automobile Damage Compensation Management Institute, and Experts from Various Fields The government announced on April 7 that it will launch a task force on autonomous vehicle accident liability. The task force has been established to systematize accident liability standards and compensation procedures in preparation for the commercialization of autonomous vehicles in 2027. Its goal is to establish swift and fair compensation procedures and to develop government-wide guidelines for accident liability. Previously, the government revised the Automobile Damage Compensation Guarantee Act in 2020 by referencing overseas legislative cases and incorporating feedback from the Financial Services Commission, automobile manufacturers, and civic groups. The revised law defines autonomous vehicle accidents and their liability. It established a system that provides compensation first and pursues recovery later to protect accident victims. However, criticism has been raised regarding the lack of clear assessment standards and procedures for multi-layered liability, including manufacturers, autonomous driving systems, transportation platforms, and cybersecurity, during accident cause investigations and subsequent recovery processes. Considering that 200 autonomous vehicles will begin operation throughout Gwangju Metropolitan City from the second half of this year, there is a need for advance preparation. A self-driving car based on Hyundai Motor Company's Ioniq 5. Provided by Hyundai Motor Company View original imageThe task force will be overseen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, with the Automobile Damage Compensation Management Institute serving as secretary. To facilitate broad discussions across all aspects of autonomous driving, 18 experts from fields including law, engineering, insurance, and industry will participate as committee members. The task force aims to establish accident liability guidelines by the end of the year and support relevant legislative amendments. It