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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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 Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:21 pm Post subject: Getting a Korean driver's license without one from home... |
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What is the most expedient way to get a Korean driver's license without having one issued from your home country?
My old license from the States has expired and I don't even have the old card anymore. Can I simply schedule a written test and driving test at a local office? I can bring along a friend for language assistance, if need be.
Are you aware of the timeframe/costs involved? Thanks for any and all info! |
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Ultimo Hombre
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Location: BEER STORE
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry to get off track but I have a question. What do you do to get one if you have one from home? Just go apply for it and voila? |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Ultimo Hombre wrote: |
| Sorry to get off track but I have a question. What do you do to get one if you have one from home? Just go apply for it and voila? |
Take a physical examination there, another simple road knowledge test and then pay money. |
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traxxe
Joined: 21 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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It's difficult to get one without being able to speak Korean. You have to go to driving school.
I lost my and it expired. I sent money to my state DMV and they renewed it and shipped a new one to me. I then traded it and did an eye and written test. |
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ellegarden
Joined: 01 Sep 2007
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anjucat
Joined: 26 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:33 am Post subject: |
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I just finished the whole process, which was a real pain in the as. I live in the sticks, so it's maybe different where you're located, but the basic process went as such:
1. written test (in English; pretty easy)
2. 3 hour "lecture" (in Korean. I sat at the back and read a book)
3. DRIVING SCHOOL! You should do a minimum 3-hour course, which is largely BS. Amusing, though, as they don't actually teach you how to drive, but rather how to pass the...
4. COURSE TEST! Complete and utter BS. Lots of little rules and regs to follow. Your driving skills are not what are being tested here -- rather, it's your ability memorize little details such as turning your right-hand blinker on at the end and holding it down for 8 seconds, even though you are turning left. (seriously. minus 10 points if you forget)
5. Road test. Finally. No worries here.
done.
seriously, a pain. But, now it's done and i'm glad.
cheers |
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Jellypah
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: ROK
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| Right on, Anjucat. Thanks for the information on this. Can I ask what the cost was like? (You had to pay for the "driving lessons" right?) |
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jbpatlanta
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
It's difficult to get one without being able to speak Korean. You have to go to driving school.
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Speaking Korean depends on which office you go to. I did fine with out using any korean.
You DO NOT have to go to driving school. You have to have 10 hours of practice driving. All you need is a friend or co worker with a license to sign the paper saying you drove with them for ten hours.
| Quote: |
4. COURSE TEST! Complete and utter BS. Lots of little rules and regs to follow. Your driving skills are not what are being tested here -- rather, it's your ability memorize little details such as turning your right-hand blinker on at the end and holding it down for 8 seconds, even though you are turning left. (seriously. minus 10 points if you forget)
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I'll second this on. That course test was the biggest crock I have ever seen in a driving exam. It serves no practical purpose. You have to navigate through some practice curves. You get docked points if you car goes over a sensor reguardless of if you hit the curb or not. Ridiculous.
Try to renew your license from your home first by mail. Then trade it in for a new license. Much much easier this way. |
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anjucat
Joined: 26 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:33 am Post subject: |
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i kinda forget the costs for each step. Not so much, though. 15K for course test; 25K for road test, i think. Driving "school" was the most expensive, at 70K.
Interesting, jbp: the folks in my local myeon DMV told me that i did, in fact, HAVE to do the driving school thing. Apparently DMV regs are similar to immigration regs -- ie., depends on the branch office... |
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Guri Guy
Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Location: Bamboo Island
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:46 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 4. COURSE TEST! Complete and utter BS. Lots of little rules and regs to follow. Your driving skills are not what are being tested here -- rather, it's your ability memorize little details such as... |
Kind of sounds like taking TOEIC classes to learn English  |
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