It was about ten months into my Korea life when a coworker casually mentioned that my International Driving Permit would expire in two months. Two months. I'd been driving to work all year, vaguely aware that "I should probably sort this out at some point," and now I had a deadline. The closest Driver's License Examination Office was in the next city over. I didn't know what documents I needed. And I definitely didn't know they were going to take my original license and not give it back.
If you're driving in Korea — or planning to — this is the guide I needed then.
How Long Can You Actually Drive on Your Foreign License?
A common misconception: your International Driving Permit (IDP) lasts for however long it says on the card. In Korea, that's not how it works. An IDP is valid for exactly one year from your date of entry into Korea — not from the date the permit was issued. So if you got an IDP that's technically valid for three years but you've been living here for nine months, you actually only have three months of legal driving left.
The only exception: if you leave Korea and re-enter, the one-year clock resets from that new entry date. But that's not exactly a practical long-term solution.
One more thing people miss: your IDP must always be carried alongside your original foreign license. The IDP is not a standalone document. If you're stopped and you only have the permit but not the original license, it's not valid.
The takeaway here: if you plan to stay in Korea longer than a year and want to keep driving, you need a Korean license. Don't wait until the last month. The earlier you do it, the less stressful it is.
Does Your Country Get the Easy Route?
This is the biggest variable in the whole process, and it depends entirely on your nationality. Korea has bilateral driver's license exchange agreements with a significant number of countries — citizens of these countries can convert their license with nothing more than a vision test. No written exam. No road test.
Countries in this group include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Israel, and most EU member states — Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and many others. If you're from one of these countries, the process is genuinely simple.
If your country is NOT on that list, you'll need to pass a written knowledge test at minimum. Countries not covered by bilateral agreements include much of Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia), South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh), most of Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Depending on your specific situation, you may also need a skills test.
The list of agreement countries is updated periodically, so always verify your country's current status on safedriving.or.kr or by calling the Korea Road Traffic Authority hotline at 1577-1120 before you make the trip. Don't assume.
Where You Actually Go (Spoiler: Not the Police Station)
This one catches people out. Your foreign license exchange happens at a Driver's License Examination Office (운전면허시험관리단) — not at a police station, not at immigration, not at the local ward office. Different institution entirely.
Major offices are in Seoul Gangnam, Seoul Mapo (Seodaemun area), Suwon, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, and other cities. Most operate Monday through Friday, with some offering limited Saturday morning hours. They typically open at 9:00 AM. Arrive early — afternoon queues on busy days can push you past closing time, especially Friday afternoons.
Search "운전면허시험관리단 + [your city]" or use safedriving.or.kr to find the nearest office to you.
What to Bring
The standard document list for agreement-country license holders:
Your original foreign driver's license (the actual card — not a photo, not a copy, not a digital scan). This is the one they'll keep. Your passport, valid and original. Your Alien Registration Card (ARC) — this is mandatory; if you don't have one yet, you cannot do the exchange. Tourists and people in the process of getting their ARC cannot do this. Passport-style photos — 3.5cm × 4.5cm, white background, taken within the last six months. And the application form, which you pick up for free at the office.
If your foreign license is not in Korean or English, you'll also need a certified Korean translation. This means your license is in French, Spanish, German, Chinese, or another language. Translations can be done by your country's embassy or consulate in Korea, by a licensed translation service, or sometimes by an authorized translator. Budget 30,000–100,000 KRW for a private translation service, or check with your embassy (though embassy notarizations can run higher). Get this done ahead of time — it usually takes at least a few days.
Some offices also request proof that you were a legal resident in the country that issued your license — not just a tourist who got a license on a 90-day visit. Passport entry/exit stamps typically serve as this evidence, or you can print your immigration history from the Korea Immigration Service website. Bring it as a precaution even if no one asks.
What Happens at the Office
For agreement-country holders, the process on the day is relatively painless. You take a number, wait your turn (morning is calmer), and present your documents at the counter. Staff will review everything. Then you do a vision test — basic acuity, maybe color perception, takes about five minutes. Bring your glasses or contacts if you use them.
Then you pay the fee. The total is roughly 25,000–30,000 KRW all in if you don't need a translation — this covers the processing fee and the license production fee. If you needed a certified translation, add that on top. Pay, and then wait. Your Korean license is typically issued the same day, within an hour or two.
Here's the moment that surprises everyone: when you hand over your foreign license at the counter, that's the last time you'll see it. Korea confiscates the original. They're supposed to return it if you leave Korea permanently, but in practice this is inconsistent. If you'll need your original license for driving abroad after Korea, you'll need to apply for a replacement from your home country. Factor that into your planning.
For Non-Agreement Country License Holders
If your country doesn't have a bilateral agreement, add a written knowledge test to the process above. The test is computer-based, 40 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes, with a passing score of 60 out of 100. The good news: it's available in many languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Thai, Mongolian, Russian, French, Spanish, and others depending on the office.
The test covers Korean traffic laws, road signs, speed limits (generally 60–80 km/h in urban areas, 100–110 km/h on highways), right-of-way rules, DUI thresholds (the legal blood alcohol limit for a violation is 0.03%), pedestrian rules, and distracted driving laws. Free study booklets are available at the examination office in various languages. Safedriving.or.kr has official practice tests in Korean, and there are plenty of expat walkthrough videos on YouTube in English.
The written test fee is approximately 10,000 KRW. In some cases — depending on your country and your license class — you may also need a skills test on a closed course. Check your specific situation in advance.
The License You Get
The Korean driver's license is a standard credit card–sized plastic card, the same format as most modern licenses worldwide. Korea uses a 1종/2종 classification system. Most foreigners converting a standard passenger car license end up with 2종 보통 (Type 2 ordinary), valid for vehicles up to 10 passengers. If your foreign license was automatic-transmission-only, that restriction carries over to your Korean license.
The license doesn't expire until you turn 65. After 65, you renew every five years. After 75, every three years. For most people in Korea on a working visa or long-term residency, this is effectively a permanent document while you're here.
A Note on Car Insurance and Driving Record
One thing no one mentions: Korea does not import your home country driving record or insurance history. For insurance purposes, you start fresh in Korea. This means your premiums may initially be calculated as if you're a new driver. Some Korean insurers will give credit for years of demonstrated foreign driving experience if you can document it, but this varies by company. Don't expect a seamless transfer of your no-claims history.
The Short Version
If you're from a country with a bilateral agreement and your ARC is sorted: gather your documents, make sure any non-English/Korean license is translated, show up to the examination office before noon on a weekday, pass the vision test, pay around 25,000–30,000 KRW, and walk out with a Korean license a couple hours later. If your country requires the written test, add an hour and 10,000 KRW. The process is genuinely manageable — just don't leave it until your IDP has already expired.
