Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazy_bagman]

So I bought a motorcycle a couple of months ago. It's only a 150cc bike and when I bought it I was told by multiple people that since it's a small motor that I didn't need a license. But as life happens I got into an accident and the police were called to file a report. I was then informed that I need a license for ANYTHING and was fined 300,000 won.

My questions are this -

Is it true that you need a license not matter the engine size, or am I getting the foriegner screw over?

Since I am now in the system am I screwed for future chances at employment as an English teacher as I was to apply for SMOE for the fallowing fall.

[sojukettle]

You need an International Driving Permit ( valid for 12mths only) in conjunction with your home state / country valid drivers licence or a korean drivers licence to operate both a car and/or a motorcycle / scooter.

You DO NOT need the motorcycle licence endorsement for the smaller engine sized scooters and motorbikes.

After a certain size ( 125cc?) you must have the korean motorcycle licence.

sk

[Ramen]

anything over 50cc requires license.

And you're in deep kimchi since any traffic accident is consider criminal offense. You might have a criminal record in Korea now.

sorry dude.

[crazy_bagman]

Well, does having this "record" going to bar me from having the chance to apply for SMOE?

This accident is me driving down a back street and making a bad turn and getting hit by a bus, I'm glad I'm alive with only a broken leg and rib, but I don't want this to come back at me as if I commited assault or some other violent or disorderly offense.

I was hoping for a specific answer besides a "might". Does anyone else know of someone that had a "minor record" and still obtained a public school position?

[Captain Obvious]

I think that for anything over 100cc you need a special permit. Otherwise a car lisence will do.

And hey why didn't you just bribe the cop? Woulda cost no more than 300,000 I'm sure.

[crazy_bagman]

I couldn't bribe the cop becuase I was hit by a bus and in the hospital for 2 weeks. A lot of people were involved and I seriously don't think it would have gone that way.

I did hint at "another option" but wasn't gonna happen, we werei n the police station by that time.

[proustme]

Bad move on believing what people tell you about licensing.

[Murakano]

madness driving a motorbike or scooter in this country

[andrewchon]

OP:
Let's get some facts.
1. Do you have a driving licence of your home country with you?
2. Do you have an international driving licence with you?
3. What exactly is the engine size of your bike? (150cc doesn't sound 'Korean-ish')

For a foreigner: Must have 1,2, and engine size smaller than 125cc.
Bigger than 125cc: Motorcycle licence and registration.
For Korean: motorcycle licence for anything above 50cc and registration.

[nathanrutledge]

The current law is that anything over 49 cc and under 125 cc must have a regular drivers license. An international driving permit is only good IF you are traveling. Since you live here, you need a Korean license.

Korea lets foreigners from countries that recognize Korean licenses trade their license in for a Korean one, straight up trade. If your country does NOT recognize Korean licenses, then they won't recognize yours directly and you are required to take a written test.

Now, the real questions are:

1. Did you violate ANY laws before this accident happened? If so, you get hit with a big fine.
2. Was anyone else hurt, especially pedestrians? If so, you get a big fine.

No insurance, no registration, those aren't huge issues as far as immigration is concerned. You'll get nailed with some more fines, but as long as you're the only one hurt, you're not in too much trouble.

I was in the same position as you were. I got a bike, rode it for a year without registering the bike and no license. I had talked to a police officer (who would know the law, the person who enforces it, right?!?) who said that my home license was okay and registration wasn't necessary.

One day, kid runs in front of me and I fractured his skull, put him in the hospital for 16 days (severe concussion on a kid, gotta be careful). Cops show up, no license plate is no problem they say (which is what the other cop had said) but my license is bad (not what he had said). Got to the police station, they tell me the whole thing is wrong that it DOES need to be registered and in fact ALL bikes have to be registered, even under 49 cc. Then, to add insult to injury, insurance here is a joke. Because the kid was a pedestrian (even though he ran into traffic) it was MY fault and insurance wouldn't cover it. PLUS, National Health insurance doesn't cover accidents anyway.

So, 10 million won later... (2 million for the accident for the government, 400k for not registering the bike, 5.9 million for the boy and family then another 2.4 to an insurance company that the family used and I got stuck with... big damn scam) I'm still in the country, my visa was not canceled, I am moving to another school for another contract. It's not a career ending thing.

Long story short -

1. Get a Korean license. It's the law. International permits are not valid if you are here as a resident. If it's over 124 cc, you MUST have the motorcycle endorsement. By 2011, if it's got 2 wheels, you MUST have the motorcycle endorsement.
2. Register the bike, no matter what CC it is.
3. Get insurance here and make sure it covers every single situation, even if you don't think you'll get in it. Personally, I got a general umbrella liability insurance policy from back home. I could go on a murderous rampage and be covered up to a million bucks now. Wish I had done that earlier...

Those of you that THINK you know the law, talk to a lawyer. Get the facts. The second you listen to a cop or someone on this board is the second you signed a HUGE check to someone else. I wish I had done it, it would have saved me about 8 million won, almost a years savings down the drain.

Anyway, my opinion, you're an idiot who got hurt (I'm saying this in a friendly manner), but as you're here in country, you're job prospects should be fine. Heal up buddy.

[crazy_bagman]

Nathanrutledge, thank you for explaining that clearly, though I didn't get in such a situation as yourself. I was the only one hurt, and to be honest I am lucky considering the circumstances.

What happened was that I was riding my bike with a "friend" behind me riding his scooter. It was dark and he told me to take a right down a side street. The street was barely light, and closed in with little room to move. I barely noticed I was at an intersection until I was crossing it as buildings and the dark hid it well. When I realized I was runnign a back street intersection I barely had time to look to my right and saw a bus not even 10 feet from me, and then I was hit. That's right, I was hit by a bus.

My right lower leg was broken, including my ankle and 1 right rib. I was taken to the hospital and had surgery the next day.

What followed was this, I had to pay 800,000 won for repairs to the bus as I was more responsible for for the damage. BUt, the bus insurance paid for my hospital bills which I think would have been more. I had to pay 300,000 won for not driving without proper license. Also I had to pay 300,000 won to get my bike fixed. And last I'm missing out on 2 and half weeks of work pay as my school didn't want me to go up and down the 3 stories of stairs to classes every other hour, as I might fall and injure myself further. So they sent me home for like 3 weeks of "unpaid sick leave".

I'm grateful I'm not seriously injured by being crippled or something, as being hit by a bus is no joke.

I think to this day I got the best situation for teh worst case scenario that happened.

[CentralCali]

[The Cosmic Hum]

Ramen wrote:

[nathanrutledge]

[crazy_bagman]

Hey Nathan, thansk for the word, I appreciate you telling me your experience.

I'm doing alright and my cast comes off this week. I'm just concerned with my future employment prospects. My recruiter is making sound like a big deal, though I don't see how it could matter too much.

I'm not gonna worry too much as I know I can something good, but definitly not a Hagwon, haha. If not I'll move to Japan and teach there.

As for riding a motorcycle again, well not in Korea. My Motorcycle is getting fixed then I'm gonna sell it, I'm not gonna put my life in harms way when Koreans drive like [Mod Edit]. These people are insane motorists.