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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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no_tofu_speed
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: Korean Drivers licence question |
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Hi guys.
This has probably been answered somewhere here, but once again the search is nonexistant.
I been googling and reading.
Every writeup seems to mention handing your overseas licence (Australian for me) and getting a Korean licence, and being able to get the licence back when you leave...?
Errr... can I just apply for a regular Korean licence and get it, without having to hand in my Australian one?
I have an ARC and been here a year and few months and plan to stay a damn longtime! |
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Rutherford
Joined: 31 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I had to trade my western license in for a Korean one. When I visited home this summer I went back to the license office and showed them my e-ticket. They gave me my original license back without taking my Korean one and I now have both. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Korean Drivers licence question |
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| no_tofu_speed wrote: |
Hi guys.
This has probably been answered somewhere here, but once again the search is nonexistant.
I been googling and reading.
Every writeup seems to mention handing your overseas licence (Australian for me) and getting a Korean licence, and being able to get the licence back when you leave...?
Errr... can I just apply for a regular Korean licence and get it, without having to hand in my Australian one?
I have an ARC and been here a year and few months and plan to stay a damn longtime! |
Absolutely. I did that just a few months ago - i didn't want to pay 50$ to the US Embassy for them to notarize my license.
It's really a simple yet complicated procedure. It's simple in that you go in, fill out the forms, watch a video, take a written test, take an eye test, take a ridiculous course test then a road test. It's complicated in that there is less and less English as you go until you end up in the test car with an old korean driving examiner who tells you not to waste the time with the seatbelt, despite the fact that you JUST watched a video telling you that you fail if you don't use it...
You'll have to have a few days to do the whole process. You can get the paperwork, vision test, written test, video all done in one day. But you'll probably have to come back for the driving tests. IF you're lucky, you can schedule the course test bright and early, and then when you pass that, schedule the driving test for that afternoon. I suppose, if you go in really early on the first day, it MIGHT be possible to do everything in a single day.
You'll pay about 50,000 won or so on all the various fees and such, and you need to make sure you take the test in a manual transmission car IF you want to be able to drive those legally - if you test in an auto, you CANNOT legally drive an auto. Also, if you want to get a motorcycle endorsement for anything over 125 cc, that is a separate test.
PM me if you have any other questions about it. It sounds complicated, but it's really pretty easy - just a lot of running around and busywork at the place. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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| So, to save $50, you spent about 50,000 won? |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| So, to save $50, you spent about 50,000 won? |
When you trade, you still have to pay other fees. I saved about 20 bucks, but for me, it's more about the principle of the matter. I find the embassy to be a terrible place - workers are rude, hours are crap, and since we Americans have decided to throw away our civil liberties on the Real ID act, I don't understand why it costs them $50 to approve my "state" license when it is, in fact, now a national ID card.
Don't mean to offend (if I do), but I'd rather lick a rusty butthole than go to the embassy. |
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Mr. Peabody
Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: here
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Korean Drivers licence question |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| no_tofu_speed wrote: |
Hi guys.
This has probably been answered somewhere here, but once again the search is nonexistant.
I been googling and reading.
Every writeup seems to mention handing your overseas licence (Australian for me) and getting a Korean licence, and being able to get the licence back when you leave...?
Errr... can I just apply for a regular Korean licence and get it, without having to hand in my Australian one?
I have an ARC and been here a year and few months and plan to stay a damn longtime! |
Absolutely. I did that just a few months ago - i didn't want to pay 50$ to the US Embassy for them to notarize my license.
It's really a simple yet complicated procedure. It's simple in that you go in, fill out the forms, watch a video, take a written test, take an eye test, take a ridiculous course test then a road test. It's complicated in that there is less and less English as you go until you end up in the test car with an old korean driving examiner who tells you not to waste the time with the seatbelt, despite the fact that you JUST watched a video telling you that you fail if you don't use it...
You'll have to have a few days to do the whole process. You can get the paperwork, vision test, written test, video all done in one day. But you'll probably have to come back for the driving tests. IF you're lucky, you can schedule the course test bright and early, and then when you pass that, schedule the driving test for that afternoon. I suppose, if you go in really early on the first day, it MIGHT be possible to do everything in a single day.
You'll pay about 50,000 won or so on all the various fees and such, and you need to make sure you take the test in a manual transmission car IF you want to be able to drive those legally - if you test in an auto, you CANNOT legally drive an auto. Also, if you want to get a motorcycle endorsement for anything over 125 cc, that is a separate test.
PM me if you have any other questions about it. It sounds complicated, but it's really pretty easy - just a lot of running around and busywork at the place. |
what? |
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jamesd
Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:20 am Post subject: |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| CentralCali wrote: |
| So, to save $50, you spent about 50,000 won? |
When you trade, you still have to pay other fees. I saved about 20 bucks, but for me, it's more about the principle of the matter. I find the embassy to be a terrible place - workers are rude, hours are crap, and since we Americans have decided to throw away our civil liberties on the Real ID act, I don't understand why it costs them $50 to approve my "state" license when it is, in fact, now a national ID card.
Don't mean to offend (if I do), but I'd rather lick a rusty butthole than go to the embassy. |
I totally agree with you on this.  |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| Odd. I've never had a problem with a US Embassy or Consulate. I've had business at them in a few countries and have always gotten good service. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Mr Peabody - My mistake. If you test in an AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION car, you cannot drive a MANUAL TRANSMISSION car.
Oops.
CentralCali - Maybe my expectations are too high? IDK, myself - i've had negative experiences. Quite a few of my friends have had either negative or neutral experiences. I can't really think of anyone I know of who has come back from the embassy with a good impression. Maybe they sense you're a former US govt employee and cut you some slack  |
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