Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chambertin]

I'm quite curious about this whole process as well as I have my own car here and have never had any trouble.

Even at regristry they never even asked nor cared to look at my international drivers permit. I even asked they copy it and they just did the smile and nod thing (like me when I dont get a f'ing thing the ajuma is telling me at the local street market)

This time I was thinking of trading in for an official Korean internatinal permit. Rethinking this reading the story here. I by no means understand enough to go through a real driving test.

It only makes me appriciate how much people have to go through back home. Can you imagine someone at the DMV even getting service in a foriegn language?
Hell I hardly get service in English.

[kprrok]

I'm confused...you failed the first time and then he showed you around while explaining how to do the course, which you say you understood 100%.

THEN, you do something stupid like taking the wrong path through the course and get upset about it?

OK.

The guy who helped me do the test (I did the full hagwon course for 30 hours) showed me one time the path, the secrets, the points to line up. Then I aced the course nearly every time after that. Most of my points deducted on practice trips were because I was trying to figure out how many points were deducted for various "mistakes" I could make.

On my test, I was first out of 50 or so that Saturday, aced it with no problems. I even got a standing round of applause. It was apparently good luck for everyone else taking the test that day for #1 to get 100%.

[fortysixyou]

[wormholes101]

My drivers license test in NZ 20 years ago consisted of drive around a few blocks, make sure you indicate, check your mirrors, obey the road signs (stop, give way etc) and other applicable laws. You don't know what the course is going to be. Do a parallel park and an angle park. Done and dusted.

I got one point deducted for not checking my rear view mirror before I turned. This seems to be a easier yet better test than memorizing a set course.

What are the tests like in Canada and the States?

[kiknkorea]

[the ireland]

Could be worse.

In Ireland if you do the test in an automatic then you are only allowed to drive an auto car.

Should you then buy a manual you must apply for the driving test again. wait about 6 -8 weeks for a time available to do the test.

Spend �75 (110,000won) on the test itself. Have a high chance of failing it and having to wait another 6-8 weeks to do it again and pay another �75 for the pleasure.

From April, You will also have to have done 12 hours of driving lessons with a qualified instructer. (�30 a pop) and also carried out a certain number of hours driving with someone who has a full driving license.

Even if you come to Ireland with an American automatic License and decide to live there. You will have to trade in your automatic license, do a theory test to obtain your Irish provisional license, (�35) and then wait 6 months before you can sit your test for the full license. while also doing all the kessons etc outlined above


In short......Ireland makes Korea look relaxed

[Troglodyte]

They specifically wanted you to pull into the parking spot front first?

Wow!

When I was a kid and got my car licence (back home of course), the driving school instructors told us that when we got back to the parking lot at the end of the road test, we'd have to park the car and we'd have to back it in. We couldn't do a pull through or drive forward into the spot. Apparently the safe thing to do was to back into a spot. (How often have I don't that since? Rarely!) They said that unless the only spot left was at the end of the lot, we'd fail for not backing it in. I understood the logic of it, even if it was a bit severe. But it's odd that they specifically wanted you to pull in front first. I don't see the point.

But I've heard some of some odd stuff that they tell drivers here to do, so pulling in front first doesn't really surprise me all that much.

[kprrok]

Also, I forgot to mention that I'm guessing the OP isn't talking about backing into a parking place. That section of the skills test is the 3-point turn. It has nothing to do with parking.

The reason you do it that way is that the sensors and computer are programmed to be done in one direction, and that is how you are scored. There isn't a human sitting next to you checking you, it's all electronic.

[fortysixyou]

UPDATE:


I went back on Friday and re-took the rest (my third attempt).

Perfect score! 100%


Suck it, kprrok!!!

(just kidding)

[Chaucer]

Where does it indicate on your license that you're authorized to drive a stick?
Just curious--I've had my license for 10+ years here, had a stick shift, filed insurance once for a fender bender--don't know if I"m still authorized or not...

[naturegirl321]

HOw do you know if your license is good for automatic or both?

And anyone know WHY Koreans prefer to back in to parking spaces?

[the ireland]

[Troglodyte]

[fortysixyou]

[nathanrutledge]

Good on you, perfect score!

Now do you know why most Koreans go to the hagwons to take the driving test??? The DMV here sucks, it measures if you can follow directions, not if you can drive, and obviously not speaking the language guarantees a foreigner will fail and even with the language I don't know a single Korean who has just gone in and taken the test...

My personal story, I had to go to the Yongin DMV for a license, got up there, then they said they needed my passport (had my arc card, and my US license, everything else) so I went home to get it and came back. They had closed, DESPITE the fact that I specifically asked what time they would be closed that day. She said 4, it was actually 1.

Went back up the next weekend, gave her all my paperwork, she asked if I had been in a car accident. I said yes, she said I couldn't have a license. I had been in an accident, but only had my IDP, which as a resident alien here, is illegal. The cops told me to go exchange and get the Korean license and it would be okay, no ticket. The DMV said nope, no license for you! :::face palm:::

wormholes - In the US, it depends on the state. My state, we can either take a driving test with the DMV or through a private class. I did the private class (saves money on insurance) and I had to drive with the instructor 3 times (I was the only one in the car) for 2 hours each time. Took the test the 3rd day. Had to drive on the interstate, through the city, turn, signal, not speed, etc. Very thorough test.

Took my motorcycle endorsement through the DMV first, then took the class (again, insurance discount). The DMV involved starting, stopping, weaving, slow turns, fast stops, and that was about it. Took me 10 minutes, got a perfect score. The private class was much more involved and I got an 85% instead. The private classes are definitely better and more involved in my state.