South Korea's road fatalities high

Based on OECD criteria, the country's death rates from traffic accidents per 100,000 inhabitants reached 10 in 2016, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea, Yonhap reported.

The figure is believed to be relatively high in the club of 34 rich countries. In 2014, Mexico recorded 15.7 deaths per 100,000, followed by Chile with 12.3, the US with 12, Latvia with 11.9 and Turkey with 10.3.

Asia's fourth-largest economy once had one of the highest road fatalities in the world, peaking at 49 deaths per 100,000 people in 1995. The figure has been on a steady decline: From 33 in 1998 to 27.4 in 2001 and 19.9 in 2006.

"It is still higher than other OECD countries but has dropped largely compared with the past," a Statistics Korea official said. "The death toll started to fall as the authorities made it mandatory to wear seat belts."