Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dogshed]

I went to get my license. I'm creating a long article on my blog but here's the short version.

Three different times they showed me the English sheet that says they have to keep my license and some other things. I read it each time and stared at them. I wasn't sure what they wanted me to do after I read it.

I did try to ask if I could keep my license. I'm not sure if they understood me or not, but they did give me back my license after making a copy.

I have to take the test on Saturday. If they ask for it back I'll say I don't have it, but I doubt they will.

The old guy who did the medical was cool. He spoke fluent English. When he told me to twist my ankles I thought he meant both so I did them both and the same time and then I clicked my heals together and said, "There's no place like home." The guy laughed. The woman after me pulled each heel up one at a time and wiggled her heal back and forth with the ball of her foot on the floor. I wish I had made a movie of it.

I couldn't see any of the letters for the eye test but they said I passed.

[Komichi]

Where'd you go to get such good service?

[denistron]

I just got mine. I had to squat on the ground and do some funny air grabbing thing. I had to fill out a form about my health, but it was all in Korean. So the lady asked me "you have sick?" to which I replied "nope". She checked off a bunch of things and got me to sign it. Moments later I had a Korean license. The whole thing took about 15-20 minutes waiting time. I did have to give up my Canadian license. But according to them all I need to do to get it back is show them my plane ticket to show I'm leaving.

Why do they take your license anyway?

[I-am-me]

I got my korean license last march and I got to keep my american license. Why would they keep it? It's yours and you need it when you go back to the US? What if you go back for summer vacation and need to drive? Maybe korean policy makers have their wires crossed again like they always do and try to make things difficult for foreigners. Maybe its a hint; they dont want us to drive here!

[dogshed]

[jeffkim1972]

what if you lie and say you don't have a foreign license?

you must take the road test, etc?

[pkang0202]

[kimchi_pizza]

[tzechuk]

[cangel]

The Korean DMV is supposed to keep your license if you are exchanging licenses. As a Yank, we cannot exchange liceses, thus we should NOT have to give them our US licenses. I believe they are misinterpreting the rule. Anyway, I had to surrender my American license. Also, it makes no sense that since the US does not recognize the Korean license, they take it away. Canada recognizes the Korean license so using it when you go home should not be a problem.

[contrarian]

This you won't believe. I had moved from Alberta to the NWT about a year before coming to Korea and made an application for an NWT license - small native community - it took them almost a year to get my NWT license to me and they forgot to ask for my Alberta license. I spent a few weeks in the Yukon and applied for a Yukon license. They looked at my "new temporary" NWT license and gave me a Yukon license. About three weeks later my permanent NWT license came in the mail. I now have three valid driver's licenses (illegal as heck but . . . ). Just before I came to Korea I got an international license. Now I have four.

Got to Korea and about a year later applied for a Korean license (number 5). They looked at my NWT license and gave it back. Issued my a Korean License. Now I have 5. The Korean license is for 10 years, so it got about 4 years to go. The three Canadian lcenses all expired and I traded the expired NWT licence for a BC licence this winter. I am thinking of trying to renew my Alberta and Yukon license by mail, just to see if I can do it.

[normalcyispasse]

I've had a lot of driver's licenses over the past few years -- Kansas, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina just in the States. When I went to get my Korean license I just gave them one of my expired licenses and didn't show them any of the others. After the written test (in English, but still a PITA) they gave me a Korean license.

Just to be on the safe side I have an International license (with motorcycle endorsement) valid in Korea too.

[I-am-me]

Americans do not have to surrender their drivers licenses. It's yours and no one elses. Koreans are not authorized by any law to keep your license. They can make a copy and thats all. teachers are here temporarily. IF anyone at the DMV ask to keep your license, ask them for the law that states they have to take it and translated into english.

[OiGirl]

Despite what American law may say, most driver's license offices in Korea are going to make you turn in your US licence. You are supposed to be able to re-exchange your Korean license for your US license if you're going to be traveling, but friends have had to take plane tickets with them!

If you have an International Driving Permit, it is valid ONLY in conjunction with your valid license. So if your IDP was issued on your US license and you turn in your US license to the Korean DMV, your IDP is no longer valid.

I solved the problems by requesting a duplicate US license online for $10 before turning in my US license to the Korean DMV. So now I have both. In 12 years of having had an IDP, I have never found it to be of any use. Perhaps I've just not been traveling and driving in the right countries!

[JZer]