Korean Job Discussion Forums

BrenSmith · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Location: Bundang

There seems to be mixed opinion on renting a car on Jeju from the topics I've searched. Is it ok to just go there without a Korean license or IDP and be able to rent a car? Some say yes, some no. Any recent first-hand accounts? Thinking of just going there and taking my chances. Seems like the smaller companies will rent without the need for the above documents.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

You're crazy for even considering this. If you're involved in an accident (even if it isn't your fault) you'd probably be liable for damage to both cars, medical expenses, and you'll probably be deported.

You might be a great driver, but Koreans aren't. It ain't worth the risk.

tombanjo · Joined: 23 Mar 2007

i'm curious about this as well. my wife and i are considering doing this when we visit jeju but haven't really looked into it yet.

if you haven't driven in korea before then it might take a little getting used to but i definitely wouldn't say that you are "crazy for even considering this." that's a pretty big overstatement. i drive everyday, have driven in the big cities, and know plenty of other folks who do as well. yeah, korean drivers are bad but it's not the utter chaos that a lot of people seem to think it is. if you've driven somewhere like LA, then it shouldn't surprise you much.

surfinROK · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Location: Busan

Fully agree with the first response-- it's not worth the risk.

Driving in Korea is not such a crazy thing to do, but driving without a license and insurance is definitely not recommended. That being said, I have my Korean license (and am insured) and drive regularly in Busan. Due to the more aggressive nature of Busanites, Koreans say that one year of driving in Busan is like 10 years of experience elsewhere in Korea. I drove a lot in SoCal and it is much more difficult here. As Koreans have issues with personal space in general, this also seems to apply when you put them behind the wheel. Think about how it is getting on and off the subway-- that helps explain the irrational moves Koreans make when merging in traffic. It doesn't help that they also don't believe in the concept of blindspots... Anyway, Jeju is less populated, so I don't imagine the driving experience would be as bad as in the larger cities.

A good suggestion to the OP would be to consider just getting your Korean license. It can be incredibly easy to get if you have a valid license from your home country, especially if your country recognizes Korean licenses. You may be able to simply pay some fees and exchange your license (Canadians). Americans must take a multiple choice test on a computer, still not too difficult. Here is a link to a recent post about obtaining your license:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=175165&highlight=license/

Either way, have a good trip to the "Hawaii of Korea"...