Korean Job Discussion Forums

[agbonlahor i love you]

Does anyone know if it's possible for a foreigner to learn to drive in korea on an E2 visa? your help would be appreciated. cheers

[sojourner1]

If you already know how to drive, then there's no learning about how to drive, it's learning how to get around. Of course, it's possible to get a license, buy a car or motorcycle, and go places, but the non-English speaking country presents challenges in getting services though many pass the test and pass go. The reason why most of us don't drive is to save money and the fact you can go without a car unlike in America, parts of Russia, or Africa where there's little to no public transit.

[agbonlahor i love you]

Thank you for replying. I don't currently drive at the moment, but I was hoping to get a licence over here so i don't have to wait another year when I get back to the UK to learn. My Korean is ok, so I was wondering if it is possible to obtain a Korean driving licence as a foreigner which could inturn be transferred to an international driving licence upon leaving the country.

[CentralCali]

You misunderstand what an International Driver License is. It is not a driver license in its own right. Rather, it's a supplemental item based on you already having a current and valid driver license. Also, not all jurisdictions recognize the IDL. The IDL is not valid for use in the jurisdiction in which its issued. Another thing to remember is that when you return to the UK (assuming you will be resident there and you are a UK citizen), you will be required to have a UK driver license--not an IDL--to drive in the UK.

[agbonlahor i love you]

thanks for your input. I think I do understand what an international DL is. I thought an international driving licence enabled you to drive in another country for a set period of time (1 year i think?), untill you can have your licence transferred to the country in question. I was assuming that if I could get a driving licence in korea, I could use that as a way to get an international driving licence for UK so I can legally drive around in the UK unassisted untill I have time to take the UK test. Yes I am British. Please correct me if I am wrong

[CentralCali]

Absolutely incorrect.

[agbonlahor i love you]

what would you suggest?

[CentralCali]

If you do not know how to drive yet and your Korean language ability is passable (or you can find a driving hagweon with an instructor whose English is passable), then you can learn to drive in Korea. You will of course have to take the appropriate written and practical exams.

When you return to the UK, you will have to follow whatever the law at that time requires for you to obtain a UK driver license.

[sojourner1]

Ah, the traffic is on the right in Korea, but you can adjust once you're experienced in driving. Not as hard as you might imagine. Having learned and been accustomed to right side driving in America and Germany, I had always thought left side of the road driving would be difficult until I got out in traffic and tried it. It's a reverse pattern of movement, especially with intersections and turns. You'll be fine. Now get driving and licensed while you're still home if you have the car to use. Left or right, it's just driving. Ah, what pleasurable freedom when you hop on a motor and go. I miss it, but I rent small motorcycles in Thailand on vacation. Not safe, because there's no insurance and you don't know much, but I sure had some great adventures on the left side.

Get a license at home and then get an international permit, usually 1 year increments. You can also trade your home license for a Korean license and then you get it back when you're finished with the Korean license.

[Whistleblower]

Learning to drive in Korea is much like dancing; you get the hang of it after some practice.

[Ut videam]

[CentralCali]

That's right. I'm saying that a UK citizen resident in the UK must have a UK permit. A UK citizen resident in the ROK must have a ROK permit. Anyway, good luck on a UK citizen on an E-2 with a brand-new ROK permit getting issued an IDP from Korea. Not going to happen.

[MrMr]

You can learn to drive in Korea. You have to do a 3 hour safety course which consists of watching videos of horrific accidents(fun). Take a written test. take a 3 hour compulsory driving lesson (90000 won) on a set course at a professional driving school.There are then 2 possible courses of action to practice for the driving tests, which I will come back to.
You then have to pass 2 different driving tests. The first is on a course that is designed exactly the same as the preset course on which you took your 3 hour lesson. The second is a road test.
The 2 courses of action to actually practice for the driving test are: 1: try to get a friend to teach you using their vehicle (not recommended if you are a beginner). 2: take a course from a professional driving school (700000 won approx). Most new drivers in Korea take this route. The advantage is the course instructors actually give you the driving test and you are almost guaranteed to pass the tests the first time.
Global service centre in Seoul provides volunteer help to foriegners and will help you set up an appointment for the safety lecture(only offered in English once a month, i think).
I now have a Korean drivers licience and international licience and am presently driving a rented car in Canada using those documents. The IDL is valid for one year but that doesn't mean you can use it for one year in a specific country. I think it is meant to be used short term when you are a tourist in a foreign country. If you move back to your own country you may have to exchange your Korean licience according to the time frame of local laws.

[pkang0202]

I don't know about the UK, but when I came to KOrea from the US, I gave the Korean Department of Motor Vehicles my US dirvers license.

They had me do a simple physical, and then they handed me a Korean drivers license good for the next 10 years.


So in this case, having a driver's license in the US, allowed me to automatically get a Korean license.

[agbonlahor i love you]

Thanks for all your replies - been a great help. cheers