Korean Job Discussion Forums

poet13

I'm thinking about a Korean license. Does one have to be able to read and speak Korean to get a license? Does a person have to take a course? How long does the process take? Do they provide a car?

Sorry for so many questions, but just trying to work through some logistics here.

climber159 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007

http://global.seoul.go.kr/global/view/living/liv05_02.jsp

poet13 · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

Wow, what a nightmare. I'm not going to do that. I'd rather bribe a policeman int he Philippines to organize it for me. 40 bucks ought to do it.

climber159 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007

Huh? What? What country are you from?

All I had to do was go to the license office, surrender my US license, pay 11,000KRW (I think), take a vision test, take a written test (the skills of dirvers are indicative of the difficulty of the test), and wait a couple of hours. Take your ARC, passport, and 3 photographs with you too. Done.

When I leave Korea I can make a trip to the license office again and return my Korean license for my US license.

Gaber · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

Once I had my paperwork from the NZ embassy it only took me an afternoon at the DMV. They made the card for me on the spot. Really easy, assuming you have your full license from back home already.

poet13 · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:53 am Post subject:

Ah, I no longer have a valid drivers license....so I would have to go the longer route, ten hours of practise, ten hours of Seoul, etc.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

my favorite part of the test was when the dude asked me if I drank too much or took drugs.

I said "no" and he stamped my papers and sent me to the next table Laughing

of course I don't do either but it was just the farce of it all that was hilarious Laughing

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:25 am Post subject:

took me ten minutes flat

no kidding

walked in, directed to a counter where showed my canadian driver's license, then someone filled out a form, i signed it, handed over the photos i was advised to bring, had to walk to another room to get a quick eye test done by reading letters on a chart, with my glasses on! then back to the counter where my new still-warm korean driver's license was handed to me and out the door i was!

if i knew it would be so quick and easy i wouldn't have waited until '06 to get it done

billietea · Joined: 03 May 2009 Location: South Korea

Reality check from rural Korea...I went to get my license with a Canadian gal so we could share the cab fare and I was told to pay 18,000 won for three pictures...check...was told to fill out some paper....check...was told that since my passport was from the USA I would have to pass a written test (in English)...it is given once every two weeks on a Wednesday between 1-3 pm and can I come back...uh, no...I teach and today school isn't in session which is why I am here. Sorry...out of luck. FOR THOSE CANADIANS...you don't have to take a written test, instead you must prove that you are healthy by going and getting a hospital test 15,000 won...still have to pay for the 18,000 won for the pics and do the written paperwork. Neither of us got our license. Now I am glad that I don't have my license...scary place to drive and I have lived in San Francisco, Vegas and Los Angeles!