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Taiwantroll
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
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 Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: Korean Motorcycle law |
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Hello,
What is the current motorcycle law in Korea? I apologize if this has been asked before. Rather, I'm sure that it has. I would like to avoid previous posts though that are perhaps outdated. For what size bike does one require a license? How do you get a license? What roads can you travel on?
Ironically, I have met many foreigners who own scooters or motorcycles but have no idea what the law is. Many drive illegally. And many get very defensive when I ask them about it. That's nice and I have no doubt you can get away with it in Korea, but I am a public school teacher and I have a responsibility to abide by the law. It called being a 'professional'.
So, any help would be appreciated. Particularly, if you can provide a link for reference. |
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sadguy
Joined: 13 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| you're better off asking this in the official motorcyce/scooter sticky thread. |
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Landros
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:13 am Post subject: laws |
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I don't have any links but will answer any questions that you have. I have a bike over 125 cc so I need a licence and had to register and insure my bike. For 125 cc and under I understand that a licence is not needed.
I had a motorcycle licence in canada but still had to take a short road test here in korea in yongin to have permission to ride in Korea.
Big roads are no motorcycles. mostly if you have to pay they won't let you on but someguys ride there anyway.
the older smaller roads are funner to ride anyway |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:37 am Post subject: Re: laws |
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| Landros wrote: |
I don't have any links but will answer any questions that you have. I have a bike over 125 cc so I need a licence and had to register and insure my bike. For 125 cc and under I understand that a licence is not needed.
I had a motorcycle licence in canada but still had to take a short road test here in korea in yongin to have permission to ride in Korea.
Big roads are no motorcycles. mostly if you have to pay they won't let you on but someguys ride there anyway.
the older smaller roads are funner to ride anyway |
And this is wrong.
You MUST register and insure any motorized vehicle over 45 cc. Now, as we all know, cycles/scooters are always a half cc lower than their class to meet the laws. The fact is, a 49 cc scooter IN KOREA still has to be registered/insured. Other places maybe not, but Korea, it does.
So, register the bike. Insure the bike. Anything over 125 needs to have a motorcycle endorsement on the standard class two korean license. If it's under 125, you can drive it with only the standard license, no endorsement. THIS however is in flux. They were changing it, then they decided not to, then they decided to postpone it, yadda yadda yadda. Getting the endorsement is simple, if you have ever done a MSF class/know how to ride. Just get the endorsement when you get the license.
On the subject of licenses, you CANNOT use an international permit in Korea IF you are on a long term visa. Only tourists can use an IDP. Anyone else can use it for 90 days from the time of arrival. That allows you the time to get your license from the Korean DLA.
As Landros pointed out, the Expressways are illegal to drive a motorcycle on. In Korean, they are called the 고속도로 -expressways. They are toll roads so you generally won't be able to get on them, but there are a few places where it's possible, but don't do it - you can and will get busted. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:15 am Post subject: Re: laws |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| As Landros pointed out, the Expressways are illegal to drive a motorcycle on. In Korean, they are called the 고속도로 -expressways. They are toll roads so you generally won't be able to get on them, but there are a few places where it's possible, but don't do it - you can and will get busted. |
Anecdotally, a friend of a friend supposedly went years without a license while riding wherever he pleased. Eventually he got busted for riding on the highway (again, sans license) and had to pay a fine of upwards of five million won. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:20 am Post subject: Re: laws |
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| northway wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| As Landros pointed out, the Expressways are illegal to drive a motorcycle on. In Korean, they are called the 고속도로 -expressways. They are toll roads so you generally won't be able to get on them, but there are a few places where it's possible, but don't do it - you can and will get busted. |
Anecdotally, a friend of a friend supposedly went years without a license while riding wherever he pleased. Eventually he got busted for riding on the highway (again, sans license) and had to pay a fine of upwards of five million won. |
I have my own experience similar to that. Cost me a bit more. Funny side note, "I asked the police and they told me that this was legal" is not a legal defense in Korea. FYI. |
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Taiwantroll
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Ok I have a 50cc scooter and I went to city hall to register it and was told that it was not necessary. I was told that a license plate was not necessary and a driver's license was not necessary. I assume the same was true for insurance.
This is clearly the case since every 50cc scooter that I have seen is not plated. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Taiwantroll wrote: |
Ok I have a 50cc scooter and I went to city hall to register it and was told that it was not necessary. I was told that a license plate was not necessary and a driver's license was not necessary. I assume the same was true for insurance.
This is clearly the case since every 50cc scooter that I have seen is not plated. |
First, where do you live? I've never registered a motorcycle at the city hall. It's always been at a separate location specifically for car registrations.
You know any Korean? Use naver and search for "50 cc 등록" (registration) and read away.
I personally had a motorcycle accident on a 125 cc a few years back. The accident wasn't much of a problem for the police, but the fact that I had no Korean license and no license plate was. I explained to them that I had talked to the police at the station about getting a motorcycle and was told, "You can use your US license and registration is not required for anything below 125." They didn't care. The fact is that the cops who told me that didn't know the law (that they supposedly enforce) and the insurance wouldn't pay to cover the expenses BECAUSE I was riding illegally.
I got my Korean license about a month ago. At the DLA, they had information on registration of motor vehicles. It said, anything above 45 cc must be registered and insured.
Long story short, your city hall people don't know the law/aren't enforcing the law. You can ride around without plates OR license OR insurance (insurance would be useless without the first two anyway) and as long as you don't have an accident, no one will ever know the difference. But it's illegal. You have a problem, you will get burned. |
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Taiwantroll
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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I had an accident on the 50cc scooter and I went to the police station and made a report no one said anything. In fact, the other driver who was at fault paid me a fair settlement as a result. So that would seem to be in conflict with what you are saying.
That's fine. It is clear to me that I am not going to get an answer on this subject without enlisting the help of someone who can speak and read Korean fluently and finding the actual law.
Thanks anyway. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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I would imagine you didn't get any flak because you were the victim in the case. I was the one at fault in my accident, and there was an injury - the cops were there on the spot quickly.
Anyway, here are the relevant links to the places that'll tell you what you want to know.
Drivers License Agency
http://dl.koroad.or.kr/english/index.jsp
Car Registration Agency
http://www.ecar.go.kr/Services (only in Korean - most likely place to find registration information)
Traffic Safety Administration
http://eng.kotsa.or.kr/main.jsp
Have fun! |
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