Korean window tint law, explained
This is a summary of South Korean law for reference and is not legal advice. Confirm your own case with the relevant authority. Legislation changes — check the current text before you have work done. (Content as of August 2026.)
Only two windows are regulated
Korean window tint limits come from the Road Traffic Act, Article 49(1)3 and the Enforcement Decree, Article 28. Two windows are covered.
| Window | Minimum VLT |
|---|---|
| Windshield | 70% |
| Driver and front passenger side windows | 40% |
| Rear side windows | No limit |
| Rear glass | No limit |
So the rear sides and rear glass may be as dark as you like under this provision.
Penalties
- Driving a vehicle below the standard carries an administrative fine of KRW 20,000.
- A police officer who finds a non-compliant vehicle may order the film removed on the spot or require other corrective action. That, rather than the fine, is the part worth weighing — film you paid to install may have to come off.
Why "70% film" can still fail
This is the most common misunderstanding. Enforcement measures the finished window, not the number printed on the film.
Factory glass does not transmit 100% either. The result is roughly glass VLT × film VLT, so adding any film to a windshield lowers it below the bare-glass figure.
If the factory windshield is 80% and you add a film rated 70%, the measured result is about 0.80 × 0.70 = 56%. The printed number alone does not tell you whether you meet the standard.
To actually hold 70% on a windshield you need to know the glass's own transmission and pick a correspondingly high-transmission film. Ask the installer what the measured figure will be after installation, and have them verify it with a meter.
How it is measured
Enforcement and inspection use a VLT meter — light is emitted on one side of the glass and read on the other. It measures the glass and film together, which is why the combined figure is what matters.
Korea's periodic vehicle inspection also checks window transmission, so it is worth confirming before an inspection is due.
What actually gets installed
In our tally of 12 reviews that listed per-window shades, the most common windshield values were 40% (6) and 50% (5) — see how to choose a shade. Both sit below the 70% standard.
This service does not judge whether a given combination is legal. It shows the standard and what is commonly done, side by side. The decision and its consequences rest with you and your installer, and you should confirm the rules that apply where you drive.
Outside Korea
Everything above is South Korean law. In the United States limits are set by each state and vary widely; Europe and Japan differ again. Check your own jurisdiction.
See it yourself — tint preview →
More guides
- How to choose a tint shade (VLT)
What 70, 50, 40, 30, 15 and 5 percent actually look like — and why the same film looks different in every photo.
- Hue vs. reflectivity
Charcoal, neutral, green, blue, bronze — and why colour and mirror finish tend to arrive together.
- Before you book: a checklist
How to decide the per-window combination, and what to ask the installer.
- Tesla Model Y: window-by-window
Large glass area, panoramic roof, heat-formed curves — what to watch for on a Model Y.