Korean Job Discussion Forums

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Hi, I'm gonna do the test next week and I have a couple questions that I can't figure out.

When I begin and end the test do I turn the hazard lights on? If so, how long before the end of the test should I turn them on?

When I want to make a right turn and there are lights set up specifically for that turn/ ie only green and red, can I still turn right on a red?

I must drive through a school zone but there are really no signs saying when to slow down or speed up. Should I just drive 30k along the whole road?

For the Gangnam road test course A video, on the third right turn, the driver doesn't stop at all even though there is a crosswalk. Why is that?

Any help would be appreciated!^^

CrikeyKorea · Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Heogi, Seoul

WHen you begin you need to indicate that you are leaving the parking spot and then again when youa re turning out of it to begin the course.

at the end as you begin breaking to the set stop point you should put on your hazards...

you can still turn right on a red just be careful of pedestrian crossing, there are a couple on the gangnam course, you should keep your speed up,.

the driver doesnt stop because you dont need to stop at pedestrian crossing that also have lights to tell the people when they are allowed to cross.

I did the test in january at gangnam, the only thing the cop said at the start was for me to go faster, he will tell you when you can go, and he will probably tell u wen to put on your hazard lights as well.

remember to stop at the first crosswalk when you exit the parking lot if you turn left, and remember to indicate at the round-a-bout if you take the right course(sorry i cant remember the letters anymore)

you should be right, I passed my first time, unlike the poor girl that went after me, who, on her second attempt jackknifed the car and subsequently hit the gate on the way out of the parking lot, so yup, she failed before she technically started the test, without getting out of the parking lot, which made me happy, becos i was quite scared of driving around with her for 15-20mins,,, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me, I will be happy to help

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Great info^ thanks so much^^ I've no worries about doing something stupid, been driving forever but am worried about little things that I don't know about.

One more question - course A - do I need to slow down near the school despite the fact there are no signs saying so? On the video it doesn't seem like the car slows down but I could be wrong.

Just curious - which course did you do? C? A seems easier.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

Oh i have a question. At an unmarked intersection, where the intersection roads are of the same size, what give way rules apply?

CrikeyKorea · Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Heogi, Seoul

which school are you talking about?, I know there is a church that you drive passed, I didn;t have to slow down for anything, I took the course in which you come out of the parking lots and turn left straight away then right up and over the bridge. I told the cop that I had been driving for ages, but just wanted to do the test because in Australia we drive on the left, so It would be better for my practice to do the test again.

If you can speak a bit of Korean helps, I slowed down at one crossing when I didn't need to and he said go faster through it, then asked why I was slowing down, I said it was my habit coz in Aus we have to do it for safety, and he said that was a good idea....

at unmarked intersections it is the first car in, then give way to your right, and strangely if two cars enter at the same time, it is the car that has more people in it...

naturegirl321 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home

Isn't it possible to just exchange your license for a Korean one? Why do you have to do the test?

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

naturegirl321 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home

I just got my license yesterday, for class 2. Here's the info

First if your country has recognises Korean licenses, you don't have to take the written test. Go here http://global.seoul.go.kr/ click on Living and then Driving. The US does not recognise Korean licenses so people with US licenses have to take the test.

You can also get extempt if you have a special visa, such as E1 or diplomatic. (Yet another reason why I'm bitter that my uni gives us E2s instead of E1s. They just have more control over us if we're on E2s)

It took me 1.5 hours, there weren't many peopel and I didn't have to wait much, but you have to go here and there and back, etc.

I went to Gangnam and did NOT have to hand over my US license.

I also bought the driving book for my husband, it was 14,000 won. I barely passed, I got 65 . You needed 60 to pass. IT's not that the grammar is bad, but rather that the questions are worded oddly, like double negatives or A and B, B and C, A and C, none of the above, etc. It only took me 5 minutes, but my head was spinning afterwards Smile

Here's what you need
Orginal valid license
A cert from your embassy. I'm not sure if all nationalities need this, but I would get it anyways. Cost 36,000 won or 30 bucks at the US embassy. Took about 20 minutes.
If it's NOT in English you need to get it translated and the translation must be legalised.
Passport
ARC
3 photos 3 by 4 cms

Tips
Bring something to read or do.

Look on the side of the ticket taking machine. Often people take tickets and don't need them, so that means you can often get the next number. Or at least wait less than if you woudl press the button and get your own. The foreign license tickets are usually much lower, like in the 40s when the others are in the hundreds. Take the lowest valid number.

DO NOT keep showing them your license. I just handed mine over the first time I went to the second floor, then never showed it again. They never asked and I wasn't about to remind them. I still have my US and Korean licenses.
Steps
Go to teh second floor, get a ticket from the ticket taker. Hit the number 1. 1 button, its' yellow. This is for foreign licenses.
2. Hand over everything to the lady there. You'll have to fill out a form with basic info. Make sure you know your address.
3. Go to the first floor and pay 12, 000 won for stamps.
4. Go to the parking lot to take the physcial.
5. Pay 5,000 won for the physical.
6. You'll have to do an eye test. Hand over your papers. I had problems here becuase they kept pointing at Korean symbols. The lady doens't even look at what she points at. I know I was getting things wrong and just saying random numbers even though it was Korea. I still passed. Some people also have to take the squat test. You have to bend your knees. I don't know why. The guy before me had to. I didn't.
7. Go to the second floor and hand over the papers.
8. If you are an E1 or your country recognises Korean licenses then they will give you a paper and tell you to come back in an hour and pick up your license. If you don't have an E2 or an agreement about Korean licenses, then you go to the 4th floor adn take the written test.
9. ON the fourth floor there are computers in the first room. I'm not sure if theyre practice ones or not. You need to walk to where the info window is, then go right and you'll see a room with baout 30 computers. Turn off your cell phone and then take the test. There are only 20 questions, each is 5 points. You have 50 minutes. I would study a bit beforehand just because there are odd questions, like which lights you turn on when you get towed, what the speed limit is for the "special law". I barely passed, then again years ago I barely passed the US one, so it could just be me!
10. If you pass, go back to the second floor, hand over your papers and they'll do the same as in step 9.
11. Wait an hour or whatever they tell you, and pick up your license.