Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Do I really need a Korean or International drivers license?
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> FAQ
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
blah



Joined: 08 May 2003
Location: Ulsan, Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 2:26 am    Post subject: Do I really need a Korean or International drivers license? Reply with quote

I drove in Taiwan for a year with nothing but my old Canadian license. I drove in the Philippines for two years with the same. I never got pulled over in Taiwan, and in the Philippines the police just didn't care.

Can I get away with driving in Korea without a license?

How many people drive without a Korean license?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
funplanet



Joined: 20 Jun 2003
Location: The new Bucheon!

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 4:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

go get your kordl...easy to do and only costs 10 or 15000....you turn in your canuck dl...take an eye test and you'll have your kdl in your hand in an hour or less
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kangnamdragon



Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I believe the law changed on July 1 and it is more difficult to get a license now.

Yes, legally you need one (Korean or international) so I guess the question is how important is it to follow the law?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
kimcheeking
Guest




PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I've been pulled over and I haven't even been driving a year here. Made an illegal u-turn, honestly didn't know, got busted and paid 70,000 won. If I didn't have a licence I'm sure it would've been whole lot more trouble.

Get the license it's cheap.

KK
Back to top
captain kirk



Joined: 29 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 7:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

believe it or not (i got one three years ago) a kdl is good for FIVE years. it cost twenty thousand won or something. just a vision test, and walk a straight line, and present the valid home country licence. yes, that's right, twenty thousand (or something) for five years. step right up!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
steroidmaximus



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: GangWon-Do

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

do a search

got mine last year, cost me 10000 won, is good for 11 years. Just showed my Canadian license, alien card, passport, they asked me if I was crazy, did an eye exam and voila.

Before getting it however, I drove for over a year without one. The cops never asked me for a license. Most of the time I just got waved through any checkpoint. If you want to rent a car, then you need a Korean license.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
A.I.
Guest




PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does anyone have any info on how to apply for a lisence post July 1st? Mr. Green
Back to top
mack the knife



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: standing right behind you...

PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
...if you want to rent a car, you need a korean license...


not necessarily. we rented a car in jeju with a texas license.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Anda



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: South Korea

PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:23 pm    Post subject: Um Reply with quote

Um, same way as before but It sounds like they have brought the driving test in as a requirment for getting a liense that they have been talking about.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
saw6436



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon, ROK

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 4:12 am    Post subject: Now a test is required Reply with quote

I have been here 5 years and have driven all 5. I only drove using my North Carolina DL. Got pulled one time and when I flashed the NCDL at the cop he puzzled over it for a minute, handed it back and waved me on.
Finally got my KDL last year. Eyetest, silly physical test, and W15,000. The KDL is good for 11 years.
If for no other reason get the KDL, an IDL is ok to use but where I am from they are pretty expensive. Also my experience with most Korean government officials leads me to believe that if the cop is not familiar with an IDL he/she will treat you as if you do not have a DL.
The problem getting a KDL is that now you have to take a written test. In Korean (as I was informed by my local police office - Seoul may provide bilingual tests). A driving test is also now required. Driving test should be easy. My cat drives better than 90% of most Koreans.
Get a KDL if for no other reason than it is a nice little souvineer (you have to return your Alien Registration Card) when you leave Korea.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
itaewonguy



Joined: 25 Mar 2003

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 4:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

JESUS! like we foreigners are the ones causing all these accidents,
and they want to make it harder for us to drive here!!!

A test in Korean?! I dont think so! thats impossible.. they can be stupid at times but they cant be that STUPID!!
koreans can get a full license after 24 hours of driving hours..and pass writen test,. OH MY GOD!!!


Last edited by itaewonguy on Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
U.S.A.



Joined: 19 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:23 am    Post subject: need it Reply with quote

Get the Korean license. It doesn't take long to see the difference in driving style. Fender-benders are frequent and if you are a legal resident in Korea, then the international license will not be sufficient if an accident occurs.

Also, keep a disposable camera with a flash in your car. If you do have an accident, you'll want to get that thing out ASAP, snap off a few photos of the accident along with the other car, driver, and car's license plate.

Several foreigners' I have known who have driven in Korea kept disposable cameras and actually had to use them. The cameras saved them a world of financial hurt.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
captain kirk



Joined: 29 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 5:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i got pulled over once. the cops had set up a speed trap, but i went through a red light to be creative. it's easy and cheap to get the korean licence, so why not? but if you prefer to be naughty, then naughty on! there are more cops in korea per square meter than all the donut shops in meegook, however, which probably only encourages you.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Corporal



Joined: 25 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I find it hard to fear the cops here. Especially since most of them are the baby-faced variety that look like they're at least a couple of years younger than me, who giggle and blush when I ask them (out the passenger's side) for directions.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Walter Mitty



Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Tokyo! ^.^

PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 9:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it any different if all you want is a motorcycle license?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> FAQ All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International