Abstract

We have conducted two studies to confirm Koreans’ perceptions of ethical judgment of Autonomous Vehicles(AVs). Based on prior studies that examined people’s ethical standards on the accident situation of AVs, we wanted to find out whether the low support for utilitarian decision of AVs, and for sparing young lives, which were presented as characteristics of the Eastern culture in prior research were also seen in Korean samples (Study 1), and whether the ethical judgment on AVs depends on the perspectives: driver and observer (Study 2). In Study 1, we examined the ethical judgment of Koreans based on the two conditions number of people and age conditions and verified the subjective difficulties of the accompanying choices. In Study 2, we ascertained whether ethical judgment, subjective difficulties in choice, and assessment of accident responsibility vary depending on the difference in perspective between observers and drivers. Results in Study 1 provided that the participants made a decision to save more lives and young lives. Considering both the number of people and the age, overall, the tendency to judge by applying the number of people criteria preferentially rather than the age standard was confirmed. Study 2 showed significant differences in ethical judgments based on perspectives. Pedestrian priority was significantly higher shown in the observers group who had nothing to do with the accidents. Drivers group reported more subjective difficulties in making decisions. When asked who was responsible for the accidents, participants answered that the manufacturer was the most responsible regardless of the point of view, followed by the driver. On the other hand, they answered that pedestrians were least responsible.