Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fortysixyou]

Hey 'Mericans!

I need to past the exam in a few weeks to get my Korean driver's license.

Do you know of any resources to help me study up (i.e. books, websites, etc.) ?

Where can they be found ?

[Missihippi]

I don't know the answer first hand, but maybe someone else can confirm this: You can trade your American license in for a Korean license and drive here. My friend did that last year... i may have misheard him though..

[Spongebob Squarepants]

Hiyya OP,

What the other dude said is true: you can easily get a Korean DL if you turn in your American DL, and for that you only need to take a physical and a computer-based road rules test (think speed limits and signs).

On the other hand if you don't particularly like the idea of these guys hanging on to your American DL (which I wasn't about to let happen), you can go the route I did.

First you get the physical (can you clench your fists and squat? pass!), then you register for the computer-based test.

After passing the computer-based test (60% = pass), you have to schedule a course test. They have a little driving course and they get you to show that you know how to parallel park and stop on inclines... (simple ass stuff that anyone can do).

After you pass the course test (80% = pass) you have to schedule a road test. This is probably the biggest joke of a test out there as all I did was turn out of the lot, drive down a straight, change lanes once, stop at a red light, and 3 minutes later was told I had passed with 92%.

In all it's a piece of cake, but it takes a couple days to schedule the next test. ie: Monday - paper test; Wednesday - course test; Friday - road test.

If you want to brush up on Korean road rules and signs (most are standard) this website might be helpful:

http://www.dla.go.kr/english/index.jsp

There were folks talking about an English book, but if you ask at the Kangnam DLA they'll just tell you it's out of print...

[Crockpot2001]

I was fine with trading mine in as it expired 3 days later.

I took the physical and did not hardly know I was taking it. Gives you confidense doesn't it? I then took the computerized test. It was very good that I had been driving for 9 months as some of the questions I knew the answer from experience. I know when I can make U-turns and had a good idea of the average speedlimit in Korea. I never read the book but got a 92% or something. I would like to have the book for reading on the crapper.

[blackjack]

[Jane]

At the time you receive the Korean driver's licence, they will require you to turn in your home country's licence. However, you can go reclaim with proof of a ticket home, for example, and then the don't ask for it back again.

[pidgin]

I lost my Amer. one but got a replacement sent over easily enough.

BUT, the Korean test must vary from place to place.

I got mine done in Suwon about 6 mos ago and it was complete in one day. NO driving test.

-Paperwork (hand in Amer. license)
- physical
- Computer based written test.
-Done.

[Cheonmunka]

Can u keep your Korean card license when you get your other one back?

[madhusudan]

If you intend to just swap your US license I woudn't bother to study for the test. I took it a few weeks back and it was a piece of cake.

As mentioned by others above, it is on the computer and the questions are all just common sense and generic to driving. There's nothing specific about Korean laws, although the English in it is quite convoluted, which can add some confusion as to what exactly the question is about.

The physical is just an eye test.

I had one question that asked, "What is the absurd response to returning where you parked your car and finding it gone?" That was most odd among a number of strange questions.

[pidgin]

"There's nothing specific about Korean laws, "

Again, I think that varies by location. I had questions about speed zones, fine amounts for moving violations, distance requirements in poor weather conditions, etc...

[coralreefer_1]

When I took the test here in Daegu (Chilgok) I was getting a Korean drivers license - My American one expired about a week before coming to Korea and I saw no need to renew it.

That test included:

PC based test - Available in several languages
Vision Test
3-hour seminar (Of course this was in Korean)
Course
Road Test

PC test is basic, but there were a few questions about Korean traffic laws (such as penalty points for certain traffic violations) and a few others that related to procedures for this or that during winter weather, which coming from NC we don't have very often. Either way you should have no trouble passing - passed on first attempt with never looking at a Korean drivers manual.

After this, I did the vision test that was followed by a 3 hour seminar on various driving situations. This is basically a waste of time, because it covers common sense items that many Korean drivers seem to have no concept of when driving For example....on an 8 lane road, do not find yourself in the far left lane 2 blocks before the road in which you know you need to turn right and force your way quickly and suddenly across all the other lanes to make your right turn. This was done in Korean and carries its own fee around 13,000won.

The course is a different game altogether. All of the things are easy, but getting specific info about this and that was difficult for me at that time. Certain things like failing to use your turn signal to exit the course after finishing the exam are infractions that was not covered on the simple Korean map I was given of the course, and costs points. Most violations will cost you 5 points, but a few will 10 points. If you lose more than 20 points, you fail, and must pay to retake the test again.

. If you must take the course and need more specific information about each portion, I have written something of a study guide about it (how far to stop from line, emergency stop, etc)

As mentioned, road test is easy considering you have experience with driving, and should be no trouble.

Good luck with whichever tests you end up taking-

[OiGirl]

I took the computer test and turned in my American license.
In my state you can get a new license issued over the Internet, no questions asked.