Korean Drivers Licenses

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November 21, 2024

Korea Drivers License

Exchange U.S. Drivers License for Korea License

Foreigners cannot drive in Korea with a foreign issued drivers license, so for retirees living in Korea obtaining a Korean Drivers License is a must. For your first year in Korea you can drive with an International Drivers License (IDL). You must still carry a valid stateside driver's license. After that first year however, you will need a Korean Driver’s License. Up until the age of 70 a Korean drivers license is issued for 10 years. At 70 years of age that changes to 5 years, and at 75 it's only 3 years. Read more below in Korean Drivers License After Age 75. Learn more at The Korea Road Traffic Authority https://www.safedriving.or.kr/main.do

You can obtain a Korean drivers license using the Exchange A Foreign License card-swap process, which exchanges your US driver’s license for a Korean license at a local DMV.  I went to the "Yongin Driver's License Examination Office" near Suwon (2267, Yonggu-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 031-289-0100), but there are many others on the List of Driver's License Headquarters

Driver's License Examination Center locations by Korea Road Traffic Authority: https://www.safedriving.or.kr/guide/rerGuideEng03.do

The Korea Driver's License Examination Center (DMV as we know it) will retain your U.S. license until you are ready to travel outside of Korea, which requires a trip back to the DMV to retrieve your license prior to travel -  unless you use the work-around in the HINT below. 

HINT: Go online and create a flight itinerary showing you are traveling back to the US within the next month. Print it and take it with you to DMV. You can cancel that itinerary after printing. DMV will not keep your US license, because it shows intent to travel back to the US soon.

If your stateside driver’s license was issued by a state with a Reciprocity Agreement with Korea, you are exempt from any written exams, except for a few states that Korea still will make you take a simple written test for.

The following U.S. states have reciprocity agreements with Korea as of Nov 2024:

  1. Alabama
  2. Arkansas
  3. Colorado
  4. Florida
  5. Georgia
  6. Hawaii
  7. Idaho (requires simple written test)
  8. Iowa
  9. Maryland
  1. Massachusetts
  1. Michigan
  2. Oregon (requires simple written test)
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. South Carolina
  5. Tennessee
  6. Texas
  7. Virginia
  8. Washington
  9. West Virginia

Foreigners will usually be automatically issued (without asking) the version of license with English text on the back side, as well as the Korean text on the front. This same version can also be requested by a Korean citizen, but they need to specifically ask for it.

NOTE: Stateside drivers licenses not required for renewals of an existing Korean license.

If you do not have a valid stateside drivers license, you can still obtain a Korean license, but you will be required to take the written test and perform a road test.

Below is a common process of what you need when going to get a Korean Drivers License.  I went to the "Yongin Driver's License Examination Office" near Suwon (2267, Yonggu-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 031-289-0100). You can look this up on Waze mapping. This is not the only way to do this, but it is what I did and it was easy and painless.

  Up to date information at https://www.safedriving.or.kr/main.do
  Drivers Acquisition Process at https://www.safedriving.or.kr/guide/rerGuideEng01.do

What You Need

  • Embassy Certified Stateside License or an Apostille (initial license- not needed for renewals)
  • 3 each 3.5 x 4.5 color photos must be within 6 months. You can also have photos taken there for approx. W10,000.  Attach 2 of them to the application form BEFORE you go for the eye test.
  • 4-page Application Form - they give it to you at the desk
  • US Driver’s License
  • Passport with valid SOFA stamp or Visa
  • Alien Registration Card
  • Flight Itinerary (so they don't keep your stateside license)
  • Money: Eye Check W6,000 / License W10,000

How To Get What You Need

You can have your state driver license Certified at the Seoul U.S. Embassy by making an appointment using the link below.  Your driver license cannot be expired. Bring your appointment confirmation, passport, state driver license and $50 payable in cash or credit card.  Seems that only two appointment times are given per day, one in the morning and one after lunch, but seems that everyone lining up for entrance will likely have the same appointment time. Your cell phone must be turned off and will be left/stored at the embassy entrance.  Take a number when you get inside and wait to be called. When at the window tell them the purpose of the authentication is for exchanging for a Korean driver license. They will call you back up to the window to pick up your Authentication Document with an embassy seal and a photocopy of your driver license attached when they are finished. https://kr.usembassy.gov/services/notarials/

If you must have an to obtain an Apostille (about U.S. Apostilles) I contacted an agent to do all the work. Mine was Mr. Jeong at 010-9940-4881. He is still active as of Nov 2024. He processed all the paperwork regarding the required Apostille and the Notarized Translation document.  This was all done via cell phone text messaging and bank funds transfers. It took approx. 2 weeks to get Apostille back from US. I sent him my actual Korea address (not APO), written in Korean. He couriered the returned Apostille to my house. My Apostille is processed in Tennessee, even though my stateside license is from another state – DOESN’T MATTER! It works.

I used the “Yongin Driver License Department”, which is on Waze. Easy to get to, AND has a Foreign Driver’s License counter. At the Foreign Driver’s License counter they will give you:

  • 4-page Application Form
  • 1-page License Exchange Agreement
  • Eye Test (nobody fails). Don't forget to attached photos to the application form BEFORE reaching the eye test desk. The eye test counter will turn you away to adhere the photos if not already done, and you have to wait in line again.
  • There is no written test with the card-swap process, but if needed, attached here is an English version of approx. 1000 Drivers License Exam questions with answers.

For more information on how to obtain a Korean driver’s license, please visit the Korean Driver’s License Agency’s websites:
http://dl.koroad.or.kr/license/en/sub/intLic.jsp
http://www.koroad.or.kr/en_web/index.do

Korea License After Age 75

Korean Drivers License holders over the age of 75 must renew their driver's license every three years and has additional requirements to include:

  1. Safety Education Course: in-person or Internet
  2. Dementia test: A test to assess cognitive fitness 
  3. Physical Aptitude Test to measure vision and hearing

The Korean government also encourages elderly drivers to voluntarily return their licenses in exchange for incentives, such as a transportation allowance. This effort is to reduce the number of elderly, potentially unsafe, drivers on Korean roads. However, this voluntary return rate is low, at around 2%. Some say it's because giving up a driver's license could affect livelihoods or raise emotional concerns for some seniors. Having a drivers license is a prestigious thing.  The Korean government is also considering introducing a Conditional License system, which would allow elderly drivers to drive only under certain conditions, such as specific weather conditions or timelines. As for the 3 additional steps:

Safety Education Course For Elder Drivers

You can either attended a Safety Education Session at a KoRoad Driver's License Examination Office, or go online. For Online, go to the ‘Road Traffic Authority e-Learning Center’ at https://trafficedu.koroad.or.kr:8443/home/main/index, create a login, login and watch the ‘Senior Driver Education’.  After completing the Internet lectures, print out your Certificate. You can stop and start the lectures at any time. When you log in the next time, it will start where you left off.

Dementia and Physical Aptitude Tests

Go to a Dementia Test Center in Korea.  Google search Dementia centers in Korea to find one near you. Bring your ARC and Driver’s License. The test center will obtain information about you: weight, height, blood pressure and ask questions ranging from what is your present address, to any drinking problems. They will test your dementia by having you repeat different sentences, saying things backwards, and having you repeat a series of numbers plus drawing diagrams identical to the ones shown. Upon successfully completing the test, you will be given a certificate. This all could cost around 200,000 won or so, so be prepared.

Getting Your Driver’s License Renewed

  1. Bring ARC, Driver’s License, two Photos, your Safety Course  Certificate, and Dementia Test Certificate, plus at least W20,000.
  2. At the office, look for the Health questionnaire form that is double-sided with pictures of blacked out body parts, which is to indicate missing body parts. This Health questionnaire form is all in Korean and may need someone to help fill it out. Once completed, take the form to the eye examination center. Pay the clerk W6,000 and giver her one of your two pictures.
  3. When the eye exam is finished, take the form back and get a number. wait for the clerk to call on you and proceed as per their directions. Once the clerk verifies all your information, they will direct you where to go and what to do. If everything is okay, they will call you and hand you your ARC and new Driver’s License.

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