Korean Driving License: How to Drive Legally in Korea as a Foreigner (2025 Guide)

 







Thinking of driving in Korea during your stay? Whether you’re planning a road trip along Jeju’s coastal roads or need a car for everyday life in Seoul, knowing how to drive legally in Korea as a foreigner is essential. The process can seem confusing at first—international licenses, translations, and local permits—but don’t worry! This guide breaks everything down clearly so you can hit the road safely and confidently. 🛣️

🪪 Who Can Drive in Korea as a Foreigner?

Foreigners can drive in South Korea if they meet one of the following conditions:

  • ✅ You have a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) from a Geneva or Vienna Convention country.
  • ✅ You exchange your foreign license for a Korean one (if staying long-term).
  • ✅ You’ve obtained a Korean driver’s license through local testing.

Your options depend on how long you’ll stay in Korea. Let’s look at each case below. 👇










🌍 1. Short-Term Visitors: Use an International Driving Permit (IDP)

If you’re staying less than a year, the easiest way to drive legally is with an International Driving Permit.

  • 🪪 What You Need:
    • Your original home country driver’s license
    • A valid IDP (issued under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna Convention)
    • Your passport
  • 📆 Validity: Your IDP is usually valid for 1 year from its issue date.
  • 💡 Tip: Carry both your IDP and original license whenever you drive—Korean police may ask for both during checks.
  • 🚗 Where to Rent a Car: Major rental companies like Lotte Rent-a-Car, AJ Rent-a-Car, and Hertz accept foreign licenses + IDPs.

Example: If you’re visiting Korea for 2 weeks and have a U.S. or U.K. driver’s license + IDP, you can rent a car and drive right away without any extra paperwork.

🧾 2. Long-Term Residents: Exchanging Your Foreign License for a Korean One

If you’re living in Korea for work, study, or family reasons, it’s better to exchange your foreign license for a Korean driving license.

📍 Where to Go

Visit your nearest Driver’s License Examination Office (운전면허시험장) in Seoul, Busan, or any major city. Popular centers include:

  • 🚘 Gangnam Driver’s License Office (Seoul)
  • 🚘 Seobu Office (Seoul West)
  • 🚘 Busan Driver’s License Office

📑 Required Documents

  • Your valid foreign driver’s license
  • Passport
  • Alien Registration Card (ARC)
  • 3 passport photos (3x4 cm)
  • Official translation of your license (certified by embassy or notary)
  • Application fee (around 8,500 KRW)

📅 Processing Time

Usually same-day if documents are complete! For some countries, you may need to surrender your original license temporarily until you leave Korea.

🌐 License Exchange Agreement Countries

Korea has reciprocal agreements with 140+ countries including the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, and Japan. This means you can often exchange your license without taking a written or driving test.

🧭 3. Getting a New Korean Driver’s License (No Foreign License)

If you don’t have a license yet or want a local one from scratch, you’ll need to go through Korea’s full driving process.

  • 🧠 Written Test: 40 multiple-choice questions (available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and more).
  • 🚘 Driving Course Test: Practice basic maneuvers in a test track.
  • 🚗 Road Test: Real traffic driving exam supervised by an instructor.
  • 🕒 Time Required: About 2–4 weeks, depending on how fast you complete training.

After passing all exams, you’ll receive your Korean driver’s license—valid for 10 years (or 5 years if you’re a foreign resident).

🛣️ Driving Rules & Essentials in Korea

  • 🛑 Drive on the right side of the road.
  • 📱 No phone use while driving unless hands-free.
  • 🥂 Zero tolerance for drinking and driving—even small amounts can lead to arrest.
  • 👶 Seatbelts required for all passengers (including back seats).
  • 🚦 Speed limits: 50–60 km/h in cities, 80–100 km/h on highways.

Traffic cameras are everywhere, so drive carefully—speeding tickets are automatically mailed to the car’s owner.

🧳 Renting a Car in Korea

Foreigners can easily rent a car if they have a valid license and IDP. Major car rental companies include:

  • 🚗 Lotte Rent-a-Car
  • 🚗 AJ Rent-a-Car
  • 🚗 Hertz Korea

Minimum age is usually 21, and you must have held your license for at least one year.

💡 Pro Tips for Driving in Korea

  • 📱 Use Naver Map or KakaoMap (Google Maps doesn’t show driving directions properly in Korea).
  • 🗺️ Rent WiFi Korea or get a KT&G SIM card for GPS and map access.
  • ⛽ Fuel: Most stations are self-service and accept credit cards.
  • 🅿️ Parking: Paid parking is common; always check signs before leaving your car.
  • 🏞️ Jeju Island Tip: Rent a small car and book in advance—demand is high during holidays.

🛏️ Useful Travel Add-ons

  • 🏨 Check hotel deals near Seoul and Jeju here.
  • 🎫 Purchase a T-money card for easy transport when not driving.
  • 📶 Rent WiFi Korea for smooth navigation.
  • 🧴 Order Korean cosmetics online while exploring Korea by car!

✅ Conclusion

Getting your Korean driving license or using an international permit is simpler than most expect—just follow the rules, prepare your documents, and enjoy the freedom of exploring Korea on your own wheels. 🚗🇰🇷

Would you try driving in Korea—maybe a Jeju road trip or Seoul to Busan adventure? Share your thoughts below!

🏷️ Labels & Hashtags

Labels: Korean driving license, Driving in Korea, Foreigner guide Korea, Korean road trip, Car rental in Korea, International driving permit Korea
Hashtags: #bookhotelinSeoul #buyKTandGSimcard #purchaseTmoneycard #rentWiFiKorea #orderKoreancosmetics #KoreanDrivingLicense #KoreaTravelGuide #JejuRoadTrip #DrivinginKorea

ℹ️ About Hello Korea

Hello Korea shares honest, helpful guides for traveling and living in Korea—from a foreigner’s perspective.

📬 Contact

Questions or inquiries? hello.korea.blog@gmail.com

🔒 Privacy Policy

All personal information will be used solely for the purposes of this blog and will not be used for any other reason.

⚠️ Disclaimer

The information on this blog is based on personal experience and publicly available sources. Actual experiences may differ. Rules and procedures may change—always verify details with the Korean Driver’s License Authority or your embassy.

🌤️ Friendly Reminder

8. Information may vary slightly by environment and region. Please use this as a reference only.






이 블로그의 인기 게시물

How much does a trip to Seoul cost for a week?

이미지
Hello, This is Hello Korea. Introduction Hello! I’m 헬로우코리아, and today we’ll explore what a week-long trip to Seoul might cost. Seoul, South Korea’s vibrant capital, offers a dynamic mix of modern skyscrapers, historic palaces, mouth-watering street food, and efficient public transportation—all while catering to various budgets. 1. Typical Budget Ranges   Budget travel: around $887–916 per person per week.  Mid-range: about $1,000–1,300 per person per week.   Luxury travel: can reach $1,900+ per week per person.   2. Expense Breakdown  Accommodation   Budget guesthouses/hostels: $15–40/night Mid-range hotels: $50–100/night  Food & Coffee  Street market foods: ~$5–10 per meal Restaurants and coffee shops mid-range: ~$10–25 per meal BudgetYourTrip reports ~$850 for food/coffee in two weeks for two → ~$60/day for two  Transportation  T‑money transport card (bus & subway): ~₩1,400/trip ($1.10) Weekly es...
자세한 내용 보기

Korean Apartment Rental: How to Rent an Apartment in Korea as a Foreigner (2025 Guide)

이미지
  💬 Introduction: Finding Your Korean Home Moving to Korea is exciting, but navigating the housing system can be overwhelming—especially with unique contracts like jeonse (lump-sum deposit leases). Whether you’re a student, worker, or digital nomad, knowing how to rent an apartment in Korea as a foreigner is essential. This guide covers housing types, the rental process, required documents, costs, and pro tips so you can find a comfortable home in Korea. 📖 Background: How Renting Works in Korea Korean rentals usually fall into three categories: Jeonse (전세): A huge deposit (often 50–80% of property value) with no monthly rent. Popular among locals but rarely practical for foreigners due to high upfront cost. Wolse (월세): Deposit + monthly rent. More common and accessible for expats. Officetel & Studio Rentals: Small apartments, often furnished, ideal for singles and short-term residents. Most foreigners choose wolse or officetels for flexibility and lower upfro...
자세한 내용 보기

Vegan in Korea / How to Survive as a Vegan in South Korea

이미지
  🌏 Introduction Traveling or living in South Korea as a vegan can feel overwhelming at first. If you’ve ever wandered through a Korean market or sat down at a local restaurant, you’ve probably noticed how central meat, seafood, and even hidden animal-based ingredients are in traditional dishes. Many foreigners in Korea worry: “Will I be able to eat anything here as a vegan?” Don’t worry—you’re not alone! In fact, more and more people are exploring vegan lifestyles in South Korea , and cities like Seoul , Busan , and Daegu are slowly becoming friendlier to plant-based eaters. With the right knowledge, you can not only survive but actually enjoy an incredible vegan experience here. This guide will give you practical tips, real-life examples, and a step-by-step strategy to make your vegan journey in Korea smooth and enjoyable. 🥢 Understanding Korean Food Culture Korean cuisine is famous for its bold flavors, vibrant side dishes, and heavy use of fermented ingr...
자세한 내용 보기