Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

My friend and I are going to pick up our Korean driver's licences this afternoon. Where can we get one done (in Anyang preferrably or anywhere in Seoul)?

[OnTheOtherSide]

Is it true that you can simply trade in your American license for a Korean one? How does it work?

[IncognitoHFX]

[ttompatz]

http://www.dla.go.kr/english/index.jsp

Everything you wanted (or needed to know) about getting your D/L in Korea.

[GoldMember]

Apparently Korean Drivers licences come in the bottom of cereal boxes.

[blackjack]

[jkelly80]

Ttompatz comes through in the clutch. again.

[CentralCali]

I just got mine today, thanks to the information about DLs on this site!

Although the DLA website says the wait is three hours, it's longer than that owing to the set times at which the tests are conducted. My experience was a bit interesting. The clerk helping me insisted I needed a translation of my license into Korean although it's a US license. The DLA site says that's not required. She told me she needed it because she can't read English. I politely told her in Korean, "Well, I don't see how that's an issue." The supervisor sitting behind her laughed and asked me if I'd be so kind as to translate it on the spot. So I did.

Actually, everyone was super helpful and polite. The most fun was the doctor's examination as I'm colorblind. I can differentiate traffic lights so that's not an issue. The doctor enjoyed that because of the reaction of the female clerk giving me the color vision test. He told her, "It's really not a problem. We just use that book as a preliminary test. As long as he passes the traffic light test, he's good."

After forking over a total of 11,000 won in two payments, I got the authorization to come back in two hours to take the one-hour written test. For Koreans, the test is 50 questions. For us foreigners, we get to do a "simplified test for foreigners" of 20 questions. In either case (20 or 50 questions), passing is 70%. I was tangent--70 percent even. I did feel a bit guilty that I got the same time to take a shorter test but, hey, not my rules!

After that, I got to go back to the 1st floor, fork over another 6,000 won, and wait for about an hour for the license to be printed and laminated. It's good for nine years. And when I renew, all I have to do is take the physical test again!

I did have to leave the California license. The clerk told me she had to hold onto it and I can get it when I leave Korea by turning in my Korean license and showing my departure air ticket. I asked her if she noticed the expiration date on the thing. She looked at it, saw that it's next year, and said, "Oh, yes. I guess you'll not be needing it back."

So, if you have friends in Busan, you might want to warn them to stay off the sidewalks!

[IncognitoHFX]

[CentralCali]

Where are you from, Incognito? According to the DLA's website, those from countries which recognize a Korean license are exempted from all the tests except a physical exam.

The "Big Seven" countries exempted are:

• Canada
  
• Ireland
  
• United Kingdom
  
• South Africa

The written test procedure was interesting, too. If you're fluent enough in Korean, there is a bank of computers in the waiting room (called Study Room) to take a practice test of 50 questions. That cost 1,000 won. Ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the test, the examination room doors are opened and a police officer and two DLA clerks supervise the crowd in getting seated. The officer then gives a short speech about the testing procedure and the two clerks select two candidates to come select one numbered ball each at random. The two candidates whose numbers match the selected balls are then assigned as monitors for the final portion of the testing. When the two selectors return to their seats, another police officer carts in five bags of tests; one bag per version (four versions in Korean and a big ol' bag holdng the single foreign exam. The officers and the clerks then distribute the test. The first officer announces that you may read the test but not to write on the computer card until he announces you may begin. When you finish the test, you delvier the test and the card to the clerks and then wait in the hall until everyone else is finished. The two monitors are called back in first and are ushered to the computer at the front of the room and are instructed in how to monitor the computer grading machine while all the other candidates are instructed to return to their assigned seats. Once the grading is done, you get the good or bad news about your performance and return back to the main room for the rest of the licensing procedure.

[IncognitoHFX]