Korean Job Discussion Forums

genaureliano · Joined: 04 Jan 2004

Has anyone had any experience with the police and driving without a Korean driver's license? Cheers.

Walter Mitty · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Tokyo! ^.^

I got pulled over once for running a red light. Showed the cop my alien card and US license. He told me not to use my US license and to go get a Korean one.

That was about 2 months ago and I've yet to get one. Didn't get a ticket though.

john · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

You can drive a motorcycle or car with little chance that you will get a ticket but where the risk is ... if you have an accident you are screwed.

Whether or not the other driver is at fault and if you are not legal .... meaning that your are not licensed, your vehicel is not registered/inspected/insured you will pay for everything. Your costs and the other driver's cost aswell because you should not have been on the road. More likely you will midnight run if you are not injured to badly.

Howard Roark · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Canada

My boyfriend and I have had a number of scooters from 60cc to 125cc. We've been pulled over a few times in the past 2 years. A couple of times we didn't have helmets, just cruising around the countryside. They never gave us any trouble, just told us to go on instead of trying to communicate. A few times they asked for a license and my boyfriend said "jib" and they let us go.
Now we have a motorcycle, 400cc. We always wear helmets. They can't see our faces so unless we do something really wrong they're not likely to stop us. My boyfriend was stopped once. He was still waiting for a license plate for his bike but couldn't wait to drive it so he got stopped. He said he was getting it in a few days and they told him to go on.
So generally, I wouldn't worry about getting a ticket. But if you have an accident there could be trouble.

Walter Mitty · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Tokyo! ^.^

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

You will likely not get a ticket unless you get into an accident. My friend hit a taxi while drunk on a 100cc scooter. No real damage, but the cops took him to the station and, get this, sat him down and made him drink water for 5 hours so that he could blow under on the breathalyser. Then they gave him a ticket for W400,00 (aiesh) and told him to sell his scooter because if they ever saw him riding in town again without a licence they would automatically book him.

tsgarp · Joined: 01 Dec 2003

blah · Joined: 08 May 2003 Location: Ulsan, Korea

I got pulled over last month for an illegal U-turn. The cop, through a thick accent asked to see my license, to which I replied (with a big stupid grin, offering him my hand), �nice to meet you too.� Looking a bit irritated, he radioed for another cop to come over. The second guy tried his best to tell me what I did wrong. I just smiled a lot and babbled about how much I love Korea. Finally they both gestured for me to leave.

Another time a couple of cops approached me as I was just getting on my bike to go out with my wife. In perfect English, one guy asked to see my license. I told him it was up in my third-floor apartment, and that I would be right back. I returned with my residence card, and explained that I�m a teacher here, working at a hogwan down the road. He just took down my ID number from my residence card and wished me a good day.

On a number of occasions I have been stopped to blow into a breathalyzer, but never have they asked to see a license. Just lucky, I guess. Maybe cops are a bit lax down here in Ulsan.

I hope that helps a bit.

genaureliano · Joined: 04 Jan 2004

Thanks for the info. Insurance, for sure. License, maybe not just yet.

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

I get pulled over for breath testing all the time.....as soon as they see Im a foreigner they wave me through....its too much paperwork for them I guess.