Korean Job Discussion Forums

[heyalan]

Has anyone gotten a Korean drivers license lately,..if so I have a few questions. Mainly, do they take your photo there or are you required to bring four of your own pics. Secondly, do you receive your license there on the spot, I have an International Drivers License that I'll be trading in so to speak. Thirdly,..has anyone done it in Naju, I'm taking a long bus ride there from Gwangyang this week.
Thanks for your help.

[climber159]

I got my license in Seoul. You are required to supply the photos. And, yes, you receive your license on the spot. You're trading an international license? I'm not sure how that works. I traded my US license for a Korean license. I still had to take the written test (if you're on an E-2 visa; but not if you're on another visa) and an eye test. The written test is a cake walk (I didn't study).

[teachergirltoo]

I went to the office somewhere past World Cup Stadium. The one listed on the transportation site. Anyway, for Canadians it is a straight trade. There is a photoshop in the corner of the room that takes your pics for 5000w.

[CentralCali]

You can't trade in an "international license." You need your real license.

[robot]

What's the process if your license (mine's Canadian) is expired?

[saw6436]

I got mine in Naju but that was around 8 years ago. I did have to show my VALID DL from NC but they didn't keep it of cancel it. Over-all it was a very painless experience. There is a "Foreigners Only" section at the office and the clerk there walked me through the whole process from start to finish. It took about 20 minutes for paperwork and the eye/physical test. I waited abound 30 minutes to actually get the DL and go home.

[Khenan]

I did mine late last week, but it was too late so the written test section was closed... although the rest of the facility was still up and running.

I'm pretty sure you'll need a DL with a valid expiration date - i.e., one that hasn't started molding.

[OiGirl]

You will need an unexpired DL from your country, not an IDP. They are supposed to take your license, but they may not. I didn't care; I just ordered a replacement from my state. You need to bring your own photos. I found the Naju office to be completely non-English speaking, but very helpful. (They may have preferred to communicate in my poor Korean rather than their poor English, however.) I had a Korean friend with me when I got my license, but when I went back to change my name after I got married, I went on my own.

[Eedoryeong]

I got my license in Naju 2 weeks ago.

You need
-your ARC
-your passport
-a valid (i.e. not expired) driver's license from your home country (there is a list of countries which have special exchange agreements with Korea - Canada, US are on there, don't remember the others)
-16,000 Won and
-you do NOT need 4 photos.

They will take your photos for you for a fee. I think it was 11,000 Won but bring more just in case I'm wrong. After they look at all your photo ID (they need to see all that for a few reasons, not the least of which is they need to verify your addy which should be on your ARC) they give you a form, you fill it out, they give a medical form for you to fill out as well. Then they take you across a hall into an adjacent room to do your photos, you do the color test, hand in your license, you get your Korean one, and away you go.

If you need your home driver's license to rent/drive cars when you return for break, you have to pop into the office again with your air ticket in hand and they'll hand it back. A bit of a pain but considering how easy the process is to drive in this country, not complaining would be a good idea.

[heyalan]

Thank you Eedoryeong,...that was excellent info about the Naju office. Will probably go Wednesday.

Thank you again!