Unlike many other countries, Korea does not allow people to drive until they turn 18 years old (international age). There are two possibilities for someone who wants to get their license in Korea. The first is an international permit which involves exchanging another country’s license (not a permit) with a Korean one. The second is getting a Korean driver’s license. Since most teenagers wouldn’t have a driver’s license in the first place, your son or daughter would most likely have to get a regular Korean driver’s license.
In order to get a Korean driver’s license, they would need to do the following:
-
First, would be to go to the nearest driver’s license examination office. You can easily find the location and number of one near you here (http://dl.koroad.or.kr/license/en/sub/dlExamOffice.jsp)
-
In order to pass the license application process, you have to pass a traffic safety education course (free of charge), a written exam, driving course test, on-road driving examination, and a health check. NOTE: There are different small fees for each step of the process that can vary according to location and hospital so check here (http://dl.koroad.or.kr/license/en/sub/application.jsp) before you start the application process.
-
What you will need to bring with you:
-
Cash for fees
-
Passport photo in color (3)
-
Passport
-
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
-
-
Finally, you can make an application through a proxy but only under certain circumstances
The following countries will accept Korean driver’s licences. However, if your country isn’t listed here, then you will have to get a driver’s license in that country in order to be certified to drive.
In Africa
Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Republic of the Congo, Demoractic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Republic of South Africa, San Tome and Principle, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe
In the Americas
Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and in the United States the following states: Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, Virginia, Washington, DC., and West Virginia.
In Asia
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam
In Europe
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Switzerland, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom
In the Middle East
Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen