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shibainu6969
Joined: 24 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:23 am Post subject: Driving License |
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What kind of driving license do you need for Korea?
Is an internaitonal permit ok or can you just drive with a European license or convert it or something? |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Driving License |
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| shibainu6969 wrote: |
What kind of driving license do you need for Korea?
Is an internaitonal permit ok or can you just drive with a European license or convert it or something? |
To be legal (to drive in Korea) you need either:
a) an IDP (international drivers permit) issued in your home country
b) a Korean drivers license.
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sendittheemail
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:30 am Post subject: |
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If you are from a developed country, you should be able to trade your country's drivers license for a Korean one. In the case of Americans, you can trade your license, plus take a PC license test at the Korean DMV in order to obtain a Korean license.
The English version of the test is written completely in Konglish, and very difficult to understand, but luckily there are pictures on the screen. Plus you only need to get around 60% to pass it (hence the extremely dangerous and reckless driving you see in Korea), and you can keep re-taking it until you guess the answers correctly. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Driving License |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| shibainu6969 wrote: |
What kind of driving license do you need for Korea?
Is an internaitonal permit ok or can you just drive with a European license or convert it or something? |
To be legal (to drive in Korea) you need either:
a) an IDP (international drivers permit) issued in your home country
b) a Korean drivers license.
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And your IDP needs to be carried with your home license.
People on long-term visas now have get a Korean license to drive here legally. |
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nstick13
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| sendittheemail wrote: |
If you are from a developed country, you should be able to trade your country's drivers license for a Korean one. In the case of Americans, you can trade your license, plus take a PC license test at the Korean DMV in order to obtain a Korean license.
The English version of the test is written completely in Konglish, and very difficult to understand, but luckily there are pictures on the screen. Plus you only need to get around 60% to pass it (hence the extremely dangerous and reckless driving you see in Korea), and you can keep re-taking it until you guess the answers correctly. |
Just did this last week. I passed the test the first time with 60 points (phew!). It was all pretty common sense if you've ridden in a taxi a few times in Korea. It's weird to "select 2 answers" though.
Don't forget to get your home license back before you leave (with airplane tickets). |
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shibainu6969
Joined: 24 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| thanks, that webpag seems to say you can get an internaitonal drivers license in korea paying 7000 won is that correct? |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| shibainu6969 wrote: |
| thanks, that webpag seems to say you can get an internaitonal drivers license in korea paying 7000 won is that correct? |
That is when you already have a Korean license and you need to travel to another country where you will drive a vehicle with an IDP in conjunction with your Korean license. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| shibainu6969 wrote: |
| thanks, that webpage seems to say you can get an international drivers license in Korea paying 7000 won is that correct? |
Yes, IF
you have a Korean license
AND
a) you are on an E2 and have been in Korea for MORE THAN 3 years or
b) you are here on an F2/4/5 series visa.
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shibainu6969
Joined: 24 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:43 am Post subject: |
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| how easy is it to trade the license? mine is a euro one |
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warmachinenkorea
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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For Americans, now since they've made it tougher, you have to get an affidavit from the embassy stating your license is real. Then go to your local DMV, or whatever it is called in Korea, take the test for a korean license, then trade your Korean license for a IDP. If you don't live in Seoul
it sucks.
I think the affidavit is a requirement for anyone wanting to get a Korean license.
My wife and I are gettign a car so I've been checking on all of this stuff.
It's a big headache now. Before it was just trade your home license for an IDP. |
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DerJon
Joined: 30 Jan 2010
Location: Dongducheon-Si, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I got mine just before the proof rule kicked in. Got a 75% on my test and all was well. I have since used that license 1 time in the past 7 months. It is good for 9 years, though.... Also, I got a class 2 license, not a class 1 license. You may want to check into that when going about your business! |
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NSMatt
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Location: London
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| shibainu6969 wrote: |
| thanks, that webpage seems to say you can get an international drivers license in Korea paying 7000 won is that correct? |
Yes, IF
you have a Korean license
AND
a) you are on an E2 and have been in Korea for MORE THAN 3 years or
b) you are here on an F2/4/5 series visa.
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Wrong! The rules have been changed for at least 6 months now. I applied for and received an IDP last year on an E-2 and I was only 8 months in. |
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Na La Ri
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:29 am Post subject: |
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| So If you are a Canadian do you need to take a written test or prove your license? My international license expires soon and will be changing it. |
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Xylox
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:04 am Post subject: |
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| Na La Ri wrote: |
| So If you are a Canadian do you need to take a written test or prove your license? My international license expires soon and will be changing it. |
I got my boss to call the driver's place for me, and this is the info I recived for Canadians.
You need to hit the embassy and get them to confirm your license is real. Then take that + a small amount of money, like 10k won or something to the license place and they will hook you up. From what I understand, no test is required. |
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