Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stalinsdad]

Call me a duffer but I haven't passed my car license test in my home country. I wondered whether I could take it here in Korea?
I am unable to read Korean, would that be a problem with a written test?
If anyone can advise me that would be great.
M

[Corvid]

I have a similar question. I still have my license (physically), but it's suspended. (I got in an acident with no insurance. To get it unsuspended I have to get a vehicle and get it insured---obviously something I'm not excited about spending money on if I'm moving to Korea.) Anyway, the question is, are they going to check with my home state, or will they just photocopy it and assume it's good? (I'm thinking I'll want a motorcycle when I get there, and a moped is just too... well,you know )

[Gord]

1. I'm told the written test for a driver's licence is available in English, but I've never confirmed this myself. Though you need your alien registration card issued before you can go write the test.

2. The suspended licence thing. They won't check, however a motorbike licence cannot be acquried from a foreign drivers licence, as such you'll need to take a road test and whatnot to get a motorbike licence. Or just stick to motorbikes with an engine size of less than 125cc which can be driven with just a stock driving licence.

[stalinsdad]

Thanks for the advice, I can't wait to drive those wee coloured cars. lol

[Ryst Helmut]

Corvid and Stalinsdad,

Yes, there is a test in English...sorta. I had a similar problem when I wanted to get my little license. I found out that they do want a hard copy (my home country's license was lost), but supplied a letter from the DMV (Dept. of Motor Vehicles) stating that I had a valid license...no help. So I signed up to take the Englishee test.

Yes, the test comes in two formats.

1. Korean
2. English words in assorted order(s).

I took the only study material that the Korean DMV offered (Korean, of course) and had it translated. There are questions such as:

"When you are driving along a road and come up behind an ox and cart (hyphenated?), you should - A:Stay behind B:Honk C:Pass on left D:

I studied and studied (with half-ass translation, I'm sure), then on test day I drove, yeah yeah whatever, to the DMV. I was in a room with 400+ test-takers....the only cracker in the room. Well, the test was going well until I got to question #1, then 2, 3, 4, 5....

When I finally got to question #9, I cracked up laughing (I guess something not done in Korean DL tests), cause I got stared at.

Question 9 went something like this:

"While running along your vehicle as it rolls down a 10% decline, you should?"
A: Hop it
B: Faster it
C: Turn gently
D: Honk

Ok, so 'D" wasn't really there, but the others were!

I failed the test more than once, and just drove illegally until my next holiday. Went home and got my DL in hand.

I don't believe that they check to see if your DL is valid, but I don't know for sure.

As for motorcycle driving, you 'must' have a motorcycle license...very different. Just in case, International DLs are not acceptable for us, as they are for those people who are here for short periods, not as residents, I found that out the hard way.

I think that about it.

Cheers,

Ryst

[itaewonguy]

HAHHAAH those questions are funny..
really was there one about about the OX>? hahahaha

I too have no license I have been driving for two years..
I only have a restricted one in my home country so I have two options..
1: take the wriiten and driving test here and obtain a korean license..
2:fly home take my full test, return and swap it for a korean license.
I heard they are changing the laws soon so all foreigners will need to take the written test anyway..

[Ryst Helmut]

I-Guy,

Yes, you really oughtta get a real license from your home country, as when you arrive you'll want the option of being able to get wherever on your own.

As for the Ox question, swear on Monty's python it was there.

Cheers,

Ryst

[wanamin]

me too

[suadente]

I got mine.

I found the test incredibly easy. I finished first, and got one of the highest scores. The English was horrible. And in fact, in one of the questions...they didn't even have the correct answer as one of the options.

If you don't have a valid license, I believe you have to take the road test. I don't know anything about that, but I heard that it can be pretty pricey.

[earthbound14]

My favourite question was

When you are driving an ambulance and you have an accident that is your fault, who should you take care of first?
A) Yourself
B) The people you hit
C) Your patients
D) The dieing

The correct answer should have been:
E) those with life threatening injuries regardless of who they are (as the question assumes you are a paramedic whose trying to get a basic driver's license?!?).

I can only hope that the English test wasn't translated correctly and no one ever thought to organize the questions for different licensing tests.

The test is full of stupid questions like this.

Get your license from home.

Also bring an international driver's license that has a three year validity period so that you can rent a vehicle. Many companies will not allow you to rent a vehicle as you do not have enough driving experience on your Korean license - they require proof of more than 1 year driving experience.

[earthbound14]

[jeng]

I'm surprised that there's a test in English.