Korean Job Discussion Forums

[El Bandito]

Not sure why there isn't a sticky on this one.
I'm about to have some time off and I thought I would try to get my driver's license. My US license expired long ago so I have to start from scratch.
Questions that the website can't seem to cover for me.
Do you have to sit through the Traffic Safety Education instruction, leave the DMV, get the health check, then come back and apply to take the written test? Can you just go to the hospital beforehand and get the driver's license medical checkup, then go and do the video, present the medical test results and then take the written test?

Also, I can't seem to find any license test study guide online.
Can anyone who has done this before help me out?
Cheers

[Steelrails]

Something about a guy calling himself "El Bandito" driving in Korea puts a smile on my face.

Unfortunately he is killing it by asking things like "what's the law?" and "study guide".

Just hop in the El Camino and start driving man.

[El Bandito]

[Ruthdes]

I'm not sure about the logistics of getting a licence from scratch, but here are some resources for learning the road rules:
This is the Korean Government one:
http://taas.koroad.or.kr/Eng/dm/dm_indexMain.jsp...
And this is the most recent (as far as I'm aware) American military document:
http://www.osan.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090217-002.pdf

[hollakris]

Its a 3 step process.
1 Written exam
2 Course exam
3 Real live exam

1st and 2nd one is easy. Its available in English.
The written test is common knowledge. If you passed your permit and license test in the states, you will pass it.

3rd one, you have to memorize the course. The course depends on the DMV location.

[nora]

It's more than 3 steps.

First, you have to watch a video. It's in Korean but it has English subtitles. Fairly entertaining, easy enough.

Afterwards, you take the test. It's on computer and it's fairly straightforward. If you know how to drive, you should be fine. The translations are decent, but there are a few oddball questions on there. I passed mine with one question to spare. The ones I missed were odd - how do you use the AC in the car? How do you change the oil? The answers were either very obvious, or totally confusing.

Second, you'll do the medical check. It's a form you fill out - mine was filled out by the woman there when I told her "I have no medical issues." She just checked it all. Then you'll do the eye test. Again, very simple.

Next you do the course test. The car has a computer that will give the directions in English. You'll also watch the video (all korean, no subtitles) that explains it all.

If you pass that, then you'll do the road test. Depending on the instructor, it can be simple or not. I passed mine with a perfect score, but the instructor was really laid back. A friend of mine failed it by a couple of points and there tester was really harsh - so it depends. Again, if you know how to drive and are able to fit in to the driving here, you'll be fine.

Good luck!

[El Bandito]

[nora]

Doing it in a single day would be really tough - the video is an hour, the test is as long as it takes (10-20 minutes on average), and then the standing in lines and paying fees - it adds up for time.

The real kicker is the course and road test. You have to make an appointment for it. I did mine in the same day, but only because I did the course test in the morning, passed it, AND they had an opening for the afternoon. They won't let you make an appointment for the road test until you've passed the course test.

I would schedule two days for it, minimum. One day for the video, written test, and POSSIBLY course test. Second day for course and road. If it's busy, it could be three days - tests and papers, then course, then road. I would try and do it during the week, getting in early for that first class and see what you can do.

[tob55]

Plan on up to a week to finish everything. They have to schedule you in and it depends on how many others are waiting to test. Good luck. I did the same thing back in 2005 when it wasn't quite so nice to do in the rural areas. Mine was ALL in Korean, so I had to rely a lot on my minimal Korean language skills at the time.

[rmparent]

[FMPJ]

[rmparent]

[giraffe]

I've posted this info before...
I did the Driver license from scratch last december.

For me It took 3 half days but i spread that out over A couple of weeks just because I live a good 45 min away from the testing center... I would say the chances of you getting it done in 1 day are pretty slim. So I would say at minimum you need 1.5 to 2 days to do it. That is, If you pass each test and you can move on to the next one..

First Testing day I got pictures done ( at a photoplace). Went to the testing center , filled out some forms , Registered myself at the counter ( you have to pick if you want to drive manual or automatic). Before Watching the Safety video you need to register your finger print. Watch 1 hour video. It's in korean but with english subtitles. After the video you need to check out by using your finger print. THen you need to register for the written Test. Before you can do the written Test you need to go pass a physical exam ( eye Test) / fill out a medical form . You show the results to the person in the Testing room. YOu wait for your turn. They call your number when its your turn. They will switch the Test to english for you. For the written test you dont have ALLL the time in the world to do it. You have 50 minutes to answer 40 questions. It will most likely take you 30-40 minutes to do. Once your done the Test. The computer will tell you if you passed or not. If you passed they will give you a stamp/ sticker and you can register for the Functions Test. If you fail they give you fail stamp and you can come back in in 24 or 48 hours ( I forget) and try again

WHen you register for the function test they will tell which dates/times are available. If you're lucky you can do it the same day you did your written test... For the functions test You show up to the Functiosn test area. You hand in your paperwork to the guy working there. They will give some explanations in KOrean and then you WAIT until they call out your name. When they call out your name you go to your Assigned car. Once in the car you should buckle up and fix your mirrors. Ask the guy to change the test to English. IN the Car there will be a GPS screen. You basically have to follow the instructions it gives you. It will ask things like turn on the flashers , wipers, change the gear stick , turn on the car etc... The Trick for This test is that you shouldn't do things too fast and you shouldnt be too slow. YOu have 10 Seconds to do whatever it asks you to do. THERE WILL BE A TIMER for each Thing. If you you turn on the wipers before the timer starts You'll lose points! So WAIT FOR THE TIMER to COUNTDOWN for each thing . Eventually the the GPS will ask you to Start the Car and then to Drive Forward 50 feet ( dont go faster than 20km/h i think). Out of no where theres going to be an alarm. You need to brake immediately and press the 4 way flashers within 3 seconds. If you dont do this is an automatic fail. After that the GPS will tell you to go to the finish line. At the finish line Just put the car in Park and get out. Dont bother with turning it off because A worker needs to get in the car and drive it back anyways... Once out of the Car someone on a loud speaker will tell you if you failed or passed and you have to pick up your paperwork with the new stamp. If you failed go to the office and book the test again 24 or 48 hours later at the earliest if you passed You book a final Road test. BTW if they know you failed during the TEst they will kick you out of the car and not let you finish the test. Chances are if you finish the Test if means you passed. If someone is kicking you out of the car in the middle of the test you failed... you'd be surprised how many you see fail because they cant turn on the car or because they didnt wait for the Timer to count down....

The final Road Test: Show up at the Road test Spot. usually its a classroom. In the class you give your paperwork to the instructor(s). YOu watch a a quick 10-15 minute video ( korean only). After the video they sort you into cars. You have to ride/ do the test with a few other people. At my testing facility they tested the parallel parking first. YOu just need to parallel park between the lines/ concrete curb. After everyone did their parallel park test The instructor drives you to the Final road Test. YOU DON'T NEED TO MEMORIZE THE COURSES . The instructor has a Galaxy tablet that Gives out commands ( yes in english). You just follow what it tells you to do. Its 100% clear and very easy to do! it says things like " in 300 meters turn left" " in 100 meters turn left" " turn left now". Very clear and very easy to do.

One thing you should know. during the test YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL ( YES EVEN AN AUTOMATIC CAR) at every red light or everytime you're stopped for longer than 5 seconds. or else you'll lose 5 points everytime you dont. These points will add up because you can imagine that you'll have to do at least 5-10 stops.... Trust me.. Just do it even if it doesnt make sense. I learned The hard way because no one told me.... I ended up loosing something like 30 points. because of this. I essentially Failed the test but my instructor laughed because thats the only thing i did wrong. so He Passed me anyways even though the galaxy tab said i failed. If you pass you go to the main office and get your license printed. You try again 24- 48 hours later..

good luck...

[El Bandito]

Now we're getting somewhere. This is the kind of information I'm looking for.
The testing facility where I live is about a 45 minute- 1 hour bus ride out of town. I have some downtime in between jobs, so I might as well get this taken care of.

[El Bandito]

Okay. I have all my stuff ready to hit the local DMV.

I looked at the site in Korean but couldn't figure out all the different fees, and the English version (like always) provided very little information.

How much cash should I get ready for the whole process?

Thanks


***EDIT***
As soon as I posted this, I found that I already had the information.
For anyone who needs it:
http://dl.koroad.or.kr/license/en/sub/examFunc.jsp