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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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 Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject: Can I drive in the states? |
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| Can I drive in the states on Korean drivers license? |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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You need an international driver's permit to supplement your Korean license but the answer is yes.
International permits are pretty easy to get from your local DMV here, little fuzzy on the requirements, but off the top of my head:
1. license
2. passport
3. two passport photos
4. 7,000 won
Took about 30 minutes and walked out with the permit.
** and as I think about it recent reciprocal agreements may enable you to drive without the international permit. I think there are about 7 or 8 states that have such an agreement now but you'd have to check with that state specifically.
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| T-J wrote: |
1. license
2. passport
3. two passport photos
4. 7,000 won |
and your ARC.
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:38 am Post subject: |
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i might actually do that this weekend. they take your license and keep it until you leave the country for good though right? i'm still unclear about that procedure.
also, if they take the license until i leave what if i want to get it back to renew it in my home country even though i'm not "leaving" korea for good? is there a way to get the international license without giving them the license to keep? |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
i might actually do that this weekend. they take your license and keep it until you leave the country for good though right? i'm still unclear about that procedure.
also, if they take the license until i leave what if i want to get it back to renew it in my home country even though i'm not "leaving" korea for good? is there a way to get the international license without giving them the license to keep? |
I guess you got it mixed up a bit. When you get an IDP they don�t take your license. Moreover, you will need both the IDP and you driving license when driving abroad. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
i might actually do that this weekend. they take your license and keep it until you leave the country for good though right? i'm still unclear about that procedure.
also, if they take the license until i leave what if i want to get it back to renew it in my home country even though i'm not "leaving" korea for good? is there a way to get the international license without giving them the license to keep? |
Apples and turtles.
The IDP (issued in Korea) requires that you already have a Korean D/L and is used when driving outside of Korea on your Korean D/L. You don't surrender your D/L when getting an IDP.
They are BOTH required (together) for use abroad. The IDP is an internationally recognized version of your D/L with translations to about 6 different, common, languages inside a booklet form.
The surrender issue is when you have a foreign license and want to get a Korean D/L. You can get your foreign license back when needed for use abroad or for renewal in your home country. Just go in and ask for it.
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I can drive there with a Canadian drivers licence no problem. |
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| so can i just get an idp to use here in korea instead of getting a korean driving license? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
| so can i just get an idp to use here in korea instead of getting a korean driving license? |
NOT if you have an ARC.
The police may let it slide when you get a parking ticket but if you ever bang fenders, have been resident for more than 90 days and don't have a Korean D/L you may be liable for the whole package "out of pocket" (but you will have saved 100k won by not getting your Korean D/L).
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| well so let me get this straight. the best course of action for me (an american license holder) who is out of the country a lot is to get a korean drivers license, a idp, and use my korean license with idp even when i'm traveling overseas (including america)? |
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alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
| well so let me get this straight. the best course of action for me (an american license holder) who is out of the country a lot is to get a korean drivers license, a idp, and use my korean license with idp even when i'm traveling overseas (including america)? |
With your next plane ticket out of the country, just show it to them and get your American license back. It's a stupid system. They take your license, but when you leave the country you get it back, but you don't have to give the Korean one back, it's still valid and fine. So on your first trip out, you get it back. Then just carry on with your life.
I don't know if there is any other way to retrieve. If you told them you needed it to scan for identification or something like that. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 4:40 am Post subject: |
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A lot of states have reciprocity agreements with the ROK. Look into that and you may save yourself some hassle, depending on where you're going to be. See below:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Korean+drivers+reciprocity |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
| well so let me get this straight. the best course of action for me (an american license holder) who is out of the country a lot is to get a korean drivers license, a idp, and use my korean license with idp even when i'm traveling overseas (including america)? |
If I were you I would do this:
If your next trip is to the U.S., get your IDP there and use it along with your American license for any other overseas driving.
If your next trip is somewhere other than the States and you plan to drive, get a Korean license and use it to get an IDP in Korea. |
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