Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yfb]

I'm American, and I'm looking to exchange my American driver's license for a Korean driver's license.

Previously for the notarial requirement you could go in and get it done at the US Embassy. However, the US Embassy recently posted this on their website:

[hossenfeffer]

I went through that hassle just after the new year. What a pain in the a$$. I wanted my license as soon as possible so I paid a lawyer ₩100,000 and they somehow got my drivers license apostilled. It took about a week.

[sluggo832004]

Got mine in fall of 2012 and I was complaining about going all the way up to seoul.

I can only imagine what its like now. lol.

[Patrick Bateman]

I got a Korean driver's license last month, but I'm not sure if I did things the way that you're supposed to, or they enjoy to do.

Last time when I was home I visited the Secretary of State's office in Chicago (I'm from Illinois). I had called ahead of time and they said they apostille licenses, and to make a photo copy of both sides of the license and have it notarized. I did that, took it to them, paid $2, waited 20 minutes, and got the certificate. The Korean DMV was a bit suspicious, but it's a federal apostille, so they just accepted it.

Another option should be to pay 50,000 won and get a Korean license from scratch.

[joesp]

Last I heard, the US embassy was trying to get the Korean authorities to make it easier. Apparently, they didn't do that but solved their problem by refusing to assist their own citizens.

So, we're being squeezed by the Korean side that requires the stupid apostille and the embassy that refuses to give it to us.

Fantastic!

[diver]

It might be easier (and cheaper and faster) to just go through the Korean licensing process. I did it a couple of years ago and it wasn't too painful. They offer it in English.

[Fox]

Every time one hears something from the American embassy, it seems like it's always either a fee increase or ceasing to provide a given service. Fee increases are not intrinsically unreasonable, but service cuts? Ridiculous.

As an aside, I wasn't required to have my license apostilled when I traded it in for a Korean one. They seemed to just believe me when I told them it was an American license. They didn't even really look at it. I probably could have just given them my old university student ID or something.

[atwood]