Korean Job Discussion Forums

SJ · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

Anyone know the process of getting a Korean driver's license when having no license from own country. So a first time driver?

Cheers.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

1.) Go the the center
2.) Sign up for the written test. and take 3-hour "safety course"
3.) Take the test and pass with a 80%.
4a.) Sign up for a driving hagwon
5a.) Take hagwon course
6a.) Take "skills" test on a course (parallel parking, s-turn, etc.)

4b.) Sign up for minimum driving practice at center (3 hours I believe)
5b.) Practice
6a.) Take (6a) at driving center (much harder than at a hagwon)

7.) Sign up for driving test.
8.) Practice minimum of 10 hours of actual road-driving with a licensed driver.
9.) Take road test and pass
10.) Get license

SJ · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

That's great.....thanks a million for that! Smile

byunhosa · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Location: Center Ice

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

I got my license about a year ago in Gangnung.

If you have a license from certain countries you can turn that in
and then only have to take the written test and physical.

Make sure you bring a computer pen.

You can buy the book for 10,000 won.

Bring two pictures just in case the photo booth isn't working.

You may have to do the paperwork and the physical on one day
and come back for the test.

When you go home on vacation you can get your home country license back
by showing them a printout of your eticket.

Captain Marlow · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Location: darkness

just went on monday to get mine... so fking easy... go straight up to the "foreigners only" line... fill out some paper work... take a short physical which consists of: eye exam, a couple of squats, make a fist with both hands, and finally bring your hands up to your shoulders... next you take the written exam (on a computer and in english)... 20 questions... was done in 5 minutes... take the paper she gives you back to the foreigners only line... wait 20 minutes and collect your license... i have a license from america, so this is all i had to do...

bring with you:
3 passport sized photos
your passport
alien registration card
your home country driving license (you will have to leave this with them until you leave korea; to get it back you simply take your korean license and your plane ticket back to the same place)

costs: 6,000 for test, 6,000 for license and 5,000 for the physical (if you are unable to bring photos with you, there is a photo machine and the cost is 5,000; i think most people did this as there was constant a short line)

i received a "class 2" license... with this you can drive car/truck/van... you can't drive anything with more than a dozen passengers... you can also drive motorbikes/scooters as long as they are not larger than 125cc

before you go, you should have a koworker call on your behalf... there are several countries that are exempt from having to obtain a korean license... countries that recognize korean licenses have their licenses recognized by korea... america isn't on this list, but canada and quite a few more are... if you are from these countries than as long as you have that country's drivers license on you while driving, you're okay... it's worth the phone call to find out...

forgot to say... the written test was a little bit nerve-racking as there were several questions that dealt with "korea only laws" such as: The fine for driving while intoxicated is a,b,c or d. Also, the speed limit in school zones is a,b,c or d. those two popped up on my test and amazingly i got them right... it might be worth it to study the manual for an hour or so on site before taking the test... i kinda just lucked out on that bit and remember thinking that i shoulda done that beforehand although i had expected a more general type test such as when it's raining you should do a,b,c or d...

good luck

broken76 · Joined: 27 Jan 2008

If you don't have a foreign license you do need to take 3 separate tests. Written, course and road tests.
You do not need to go to a hagwon in order to take the course and road test but it helps since driving rules are a bit different here. Also the course test is more of knowing how to run the course then real driving skills.
I believe if you go to a hagwon for the course classes (there is a set number of hours you must attend) you may be exempt from taking the course test.