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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:36 am Post subject: Motorcycle stops, DL license enforcement |
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| Seoul has stepped up it's random checks of motorbike riders. They are checking everyone, even foreigners, for proper licenses. Sometimes they've let me go by simply asking me "license?" and my response of "yes." Today they checked my home license and international license, and did so closely. They spoke English and were friendly, the guy even saluted me! |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:37 am Post subject: Re: Motorcycle stops, DL license enforcement |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Seoul has stepped up it's random checks of motorbike riders. They are checking everyone, even foreigners, for proper licenses. Sometimes they've let me go by simply asking me "license?" and my response of "yes." Today they checked my home license and international license, and did so closely. They spoke English and were friendly, the guy even saluted me! |
What about 50 cc's?
I thought a license wasn't required? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:52 am Post subject: Re: Motorcycle stops, DL license enforcement |
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| thematrixiam wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Seoul has stepped up it's random checks of motorbike riders. They are checking everyone, even foreigners, for proper licenses. Sometimes they've let me go by simply asking me "license?" and my response of "yes." Today they checked my home license and international license, and did so closely. They spoke English and were friendly, the guy even saluted me! |
What about 50 cc's?
I thought a license wasn't required? |
Yes, you need a car license.
Page 7 of the "official motorcycle/scooter thread"
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=82911&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90
Everyone needs to read the thread (or at least the legal and social issues in it) before you ride in Korea. It should be a sticky, but mods hate those or something). |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:02 am Post subject: |
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Ya I have my car license. But I probably need to get that sucker transfered to a korean license.
No clue where to do that |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:10 am Post subject: |
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| thematrixiam wrote: |
Ya I have my car license. But I probably need to get that sucker transfered to a korean license.
No clue where to do that |
Do you have an International license from your home country, too? If so, carry it and your home license, you are legal.
If not, you can usually get an Intl. license through your home country through the mail, but you will probably need a middle man to help deliver documents. In the USA, your local AAA issues them.
But getting a car license in exchange (temporary, you get it back) for your home license is super easy.
Here you go:
http://english.seoul.go.kr/residents/transport/trans_07driv_01.html
http://www.dla.go.kr/english/index.jsp |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:17 am Post subject: |
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some one was telling me I could just walk into the license place, pay them 20,000 won and get a korean license.
I'm leaving the country, Canada, in seven days, so I don't have a whole lot of time to get me an international license. |
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KumaraKitty
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| I exchanged mine.(Canadian) It was very easy. They have a foreign counter just for this and they are never busy. It was a simple exchange. Cost less than 20 I think. Our friend just went back with his air-ticket for Canada and wanted to exchange for his Canadian license again. They let him keep the Korean one and gave his Canadian one back too. We go to a big office around Gimpo airport. Not sure where other ones are. |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:29 am Post subject: |
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| KumaraKitty wrote: |
| I exchanged mine.(Canadian) It was very easy. They have a foreign counter just for this and they are never busy. It was a simple exchange. Cost less than 20 I think. Our friend just went back with his air-ticket for Canada and wanted to exchange for his Canadian license again. They let him keep the Korean one and gave his Canadian one back too. We go to a big office around Gimpo airport. Not sure where other ones are. |
whoa whoa whoa whoa... What?
They exchange the license? So they hold on to my Canadian license? |
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esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| They do for Americans. I don't know about Canadians. I had to take some random physical test and a written test. No problems or worries there. My DL was already expired from America anyway, so the exchange was a non-issue to me. |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:47 am Post subject: |
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| esetters21 wrote: |
| They do for Americans. I don't know about Canadians. I had to take some random physical test and a written test. No problems or worries there. My DL was already expired from America anyway, so the exchange was a non-issue to me. |
haha... and they took it with it being expired?
what about the written? Korean? English? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| thematrixiam wrote: |
some one was telling me I could just walk into the license place, pay them 20,000 won and get a korean license.
I'm leaving the country, Canada, in seven days, so I don't have a whole lot of time to get me an international license. |
In the USA, and I'm guessing in Canada, too, it takes about 5-10 minutes. No test, just a form and you have to give 2 passport sized photos and $10.
In Korea, they won't trade your motorcycle endorsement. This is the only reason I won't trade my license. I'd have to take the road test. I could pass it on my bike, no problem. I've ridden everything from scooters to Harleys, and I've become accustomed to flying through traffic with the delivery guys in Seoul, it's just a waste of my time and the make you take it on their bike, not yours. You get no practice with the clutch or brakes beforehand and the test is slow speed maneuvering test. It would be easy to misjudge an unfamiliar clutch when doing a super-slow 90 degree turn with no feet on the ground allowed. The test does nothing to test your ability to save your life, make sudden turns or braking or ride at any speed. It tests whether or not you can ride through a parking lot.
Here's the test:
fail:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=FhOQ20wQips
pass:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=KpWF2pWhHNw
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (or similar organization) really should open up or sponsor a school in Korea for new riders. The course will save your life. |
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bundangbabo
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| Been riding here for 5 years..this happens every now and then, people get stopped by an overzealous English speaking cop and think it is a statewide crackdown....They dont care, just look at all the high school kids on those crappy 125s cruising around...I have never met anyone you got into shit for not having a license on a motorbike, although my mate was fined for driving a car unlicensed...dont believe the scaremongers, Korea is still as backwater as Thailand when it comes to licenses and motorbikes. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: |
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| bundangbabo wrote: |
| Been riding here for 5 years..this happens every now and then, people get stopped by an overzealous English speaking cop and think it is a statewide crackdown....They dont care, just look at all the high school kids on those crappy 125s cruising around...I have never met anyone you got into shit for not having a license on a motorbike, although my mate was fined for driving a car unlicensed...dont believe the scaremongers, Korea is still as backwater as Thailand when it comes to licenses and motorbikes. |
In the last 2 weeks they have been doing blanket stops, everyone gets stopped. No license or no helmet? That's a ticket. I've seen delivery guys having to call their bosses because they can't ride away due to no helmet or some other problem the cop found.
This is not targeted toward foreigners. |
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bundangbabo
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:35 am Post subject: |
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That may be true but here are my two experiences with the cops.
1. Got breath tested, was really drunk, they took my bike and put me in a taxi. The next day, I couldnt remember what had happened and my boss told me that she saw my bike down at the local supermarket, so I went and got it. Wasnt until a mate told me what happened that I remebered...but no fine or anything. That was 7 years ago and I dont drink drive now but the fact that I was ridinbg and cant even remember still scares me.
2. I was speeding and they pulled me over, saw my round eyes and told me in Korean to go slow with a little pissed off look but still no fine, that was 4 weeks ago.
The amount of times that I have seen those high school kids with no helmets and pulling up next to cops is ridiculous (yes I can spell that word correctly)...Lets face it, the cops here are a joke when it comes to traffic infringements, saying that, Bibbity is right in warning, be careful and don't ride your bike dressed like a cow waving the US flag. |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
In the USA, and I'm guessing in Canada, too, it takes about 5-10 minutes. No test, just a form and you have to give 2 passport sized photos and $10.
In Korea, they won't trade your motorcycle endorsement. This is the only reason I won't trade my license. I'd have to take the road test. I could pass it on my bike, no problem. I've ridden everything from scooters to Harleys, and I've become accustomed to flying through traffic with the delivery guys in Seoul, it's just a waste of my time and the make you take it on their bike, not yours. You get no practice with the clutch or brakes beforehand and the test is slow speed maneuvering test. It would be easy to misjudge an unfamiliar clutch when doing a super-slow 90 degree turn with no feet on the ground allowed. The test does nothing to test your ability to save your life, make sudden turns or braking or ride at any speed. It tests whether or not you can ride through a parking lot.
Here's the test:
fail:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=FhOQ20wQips
pass:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=KpWF2pWhHNw
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (or similar organization) really should open up or sponsor a school in Korea for new riders. The course will save your life. |
well. I've never touched a bike in my life. And I'd most likely be buying a scooter anyways. To just transfer over my DL I don't need the test.... but eventually I may want to take it. |
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