Korean Job Discussion Forums

OnPoint · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

Has anyone exchanged their home country license for a Korean one? It seems you have to get your license translated and notarized in order to get one. Do you know where I can get that done (translation/notarization services)? How difficult was the process as a whole? Any comments or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,
OP

kimcheeking · Guest

You dont' need to get your licencse translated or anything like that. Just take it and your passport and alien id to the nearest drivers licensing place, pay 15,000 won. 1 eye exam and 1 hour later you will have your licencse. No problemo....

FYI check out this thread. Hope this helps

phil · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

I just changed my license last month. australian -> korean

you need to have your foreign license certified at your embassy. cost me 20,000 won.
take it with your passport, alien id, 2 passport sized photos and your original license.
they make u do some touch your toe excercises and an eye exam. hand over 10,000 won and wait an hour.
bring a korean friend if u can. they had no one who could speak english when i was there (daegu), and all the forms are in korean.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Sounds like the process varies, I never had to have my licence certified by my embassy.

I also got an international driver's licence issued to me in Korea for driving outside Korea on holidays- for that I needed a form from Immigration proving that I had been a resident of Korea for at least 2.5 years (more or less, can't remember exactly what requirement was).

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Woah! I'm still reeling from the epiphany I just had while reading Dogbert's post. I think I've finally put my finger on what really bugs me the most about Korea- the lack of consistency.

Not just regarding Immigration and Licencing, but a host of other issues. Other countries have pain in the ass bureaucratic rules and red tape, but in my experience they've been more or less consistent- you find out what the rules are, and then you follow them and you'll get predictable results [even though the process may be a pain]. Not neccessarily so in Korea.

I realize this is probably a no-brainer for many people; I'd just never really given it a lot of thought before.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 6:06 pm Post subject:

I really hope you don't have to turn in your old license. As Bulsajo said, there's too many stories, even in 5 little replies, and I'm getting an inconsistent picture. If I have to hand them my old license permanently, I'd rather not...

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 6:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks for clarifying, dogbert.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

I got mine last year and it was being said that foreigners would have to start doing a driving test this year at some stage so anyone thinking of getting a Korean license shouldn't put it off.

elmer · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: cowtown

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I heard (I think on TV) that the drivers test was going to be administered starting in March of this year.

Not sure if they're doing it yet, or who has to do it. I also heard it's one page and pretty easy.

OnPoint · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

Thanks for your info. I forgot to ask if anyone could give me directions to the Gangnam Office. Can't seem to find them anywhere on the Web.
OP

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Directions to Gangnam licensing:
If you know where the TGIFriday is on Youngdongdaero (the very wide north-south blvd that runs past the Coex) then you just keep going past it following the street it's on, which takes a sharp bend left and then downhill towards the river. The complex is just at the bottom of the hill on your right.

If not, then start at Samseong station. I'm not sure which exit number it is, but you want to be on the south-east corner (cross-corner from the Intercontinental Hotel) facing east towards the bridge and Chamsil stadium. Walk a little less than a block and take the second (?) right onto a small street (don't go over the bridge). Walk about a block and half, a little past the police station, and the licensing office is on your left.

Go through the gate and head left into the main building. Once through the main doors veer to the right- there are will be mulitple line-ups, you want the the second or third line-up from the right (there should be a sign in English on the counter for the right line-up, but if it hasn't changed then it's not that big, a little hard to spot).

If I remember correctly you'll then have to leave the main building to pay, and you'll also have to get in another line-up to take a vision test. These are both done in the single story buildings just next to the main gate.

If it turns out that anyone using the licensing office happens to need any form froms Immigration, don't forget there is an Immigration office in the KCAT (City Air Terminal) over in the Coex complex just behind the Hyundai dept store.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Useful info for Americans seeking a driver's license:

http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul/wwwh3520.html