Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yeti08]

Alright so I've seen a lot of conflicting information on the subject on this Board and others, so I thought I'd share my experience.
Note - I just obtained mine TODAY (May 18, 2011), things could change of course. Also I am American, but I am guessing the process isn't much different for other foreigners.


First you will need a valid drivers license (again I will write this as an American, so replace the American parts with your country).

Next make an appointment online at the Embassy in Seoul. Go to said appt. Fill out a short affidavit and pay 55,000 won to get it notarized.

Take said notarized copy along with your ARC and your drivers license to a Driver Center. There is a big one in Gangnam, not far from Samseong Station, there are even signs in the subway for it. (Exit 1)

Get ready for a rat race. After they carefully examine all of your documents they will ask you to go get 3 pictures taken in the same building (cost 6,000won). Then you'll be prompted to go up and down and up down doing different tasks.

They do an eye exam then a written test.....get ready. The written test is 30 questions and they're dumb. Answer them not as you would as an American driver. Good luck, I passed by 1.

Now after all of that you'll hand over your American license and get your Korean license. You can get back the American one when you leave if you take a copy of your plane ticket and your Korean license. Mine will expire while I am here, so they can keep it.

Best of luck.

[yeti08]

Oh total cost is --

Notarized Drivers License = 55,000
Photo Fee = 6,000
Eye Exam Fee = 6,000
Written Test Fee = 6,000

Puts it a total of 73,000....which is pretty pricey. I also added myself to my gf's insurance which was 70,000 for a year. Not everyone's cup of tea.

[JSC]

[Heli Mike]

[yeti08]

[yeti08]

[soohak]

[Zyzyfer]

I have a different but related question. Anyone ever lost a license and obtained a replacement? I lost my wallet and both licenses were in it. The Korean one was good until 2014 but I got it out in Suji or something when I was living in Bundang. I don't really want to go all the way down there to get a new one. Is it possible to just go to an office in Seoul and request a replacement?

[ed4444]

When exchanging my license for a Korean one i discovered a small loophole which might be of use to some people.

Normally they take your foreign license and issue you with a Korean one and you can get your original one back when you leave.

However, if you have a pending trip booked to a foreign country ( I had a ticket for Nagasaki) they will give you both licenses back.

So that saves me the journey back there if i want to drive outside of Korea during the summer break.

[Weigookin74]

A written test? Really? I just gave them the notorized form from the Canadian embassy and took an eye exam. Maybe a year ago.

[yeti08]

[Zyzyfer]

lol I remember some of the ridiculous questions. Some of the situations presented simply do not compute with what an American driver would consider while driving.

But in the past, around 2004, Canadians were not required to take the written test while Americans were. I know for certain because a Canadian bud went the same day as me (an American) and he was in and out, while I had to test.

[yeti08]

[Heli Mike]

[eamo]

U.K. passport holders only have to show a full driving licence and do an eye test to get a Korean licence.

It depends where you're from. The US doesn't allow Koreans to drive there without an American driving licence, so Korea does the same with Americans in Korea.