Getting driver's license in Korea
By Choo Sung-ho
“I know Korea has a well-organized public transportation system that enables me to travel conveniently at cheap costs, but I found that neither the bus nor the subway is as convenient as driving my own car,” she said. “Particularly, for expatriates living with family members here, having your own car is not just an option but an essential part of life.” As the number of foreign residents in Korea reached 1.45 million in 2012, or 2.8 percent of the total population, demand for a valid Korean driver’s license has also grown, according to Ministry of Security and Public Administration. The Road Traffic Authority (KoRoad), a government agency that issues and renews driver’s licenses, provides relevant information for foreign residents on how to get a valid license in Korea. The Seoul Global Center, a support center, also provides related services. For foreign residents, there are two options to obtaining a license. The first one is using a valid foreign driver’s license to get a Korean one. In this case, the license must be for driving an automobile. A motorcycle or temporary driver’s license is not acceptable. The second option is obtaining a Korean driver’s license by taking the official test like other Koreans. An eligible applicant must be over 18. No matter which option they choose and what the purpose of their visit is, foreigners who plan to stay in Korea for more than 90 days have to apply for a foreign registration card from the Immigration Office. Those who do not have a proper residence card cannot apply for a license or drive here. Exchanging license Foreign residents may use their foreign driver’s license to drive while staying here. But since the foreign license is valid for only a year in Korea, those staying longer are recommended to exchange it for a Korean license by submitting the required documents to a local license examination office or the Seoul Global Center. The foreign driver’s license refers to an internationally accepted license issued by signatory nations of the Geneva Convention and the Vienna Convention. The KoRoad website provides a list of member countries, and the license issued by them has the same validity in Korea. People holding a license from listed countries need only to take an aptitude test and a physical, without taking any written exams. Those with a license from unrecognized countries such as China should take an aptitude test and a simplified written exam that consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. The test is conducted in English, Chinese or Korean. Required documents for replacing license Those who wish to exchange their international license to a Korean one must prepare required documents and submit them to a regional examination office in person. Required documents include their license, passport, registration card, three 3cm x 4cm color photos and a confirmation letter from an embassy or consulate. Processing fees are charged. The original foreign license will be kept by the examination office in exchange for the Korean license until the owner leaves the country. Applicants can get the original license back when they show their flight ticket and passport to the office they submitted their applications to. The passport must contain the most recent date of entry into Korea. Foreign license holders must provide a letter of authentication acquired from the embassy or consulate of their country, which states to the validity of the license. The official letter should be either in Korean or English and no additional notarization is required. From Jan. 1, the U.S. embassy no longer issues notarization. “U.S. citizens should submit the certificate of the Apostille that is issued by a designated authority in the country. Letters issued after Dec. 31, 2012, are no longer valid,” said a call center staff member. Application processing fees vary depending on country. Fees for those with licenses from recognized countries are 10,000 won and 16,000 won for license-holders of unaccredited ones. Obtaining license The process of getting a driver’s license is the same for both Korean and foreign residents. Applicants will take the following the process — attending traffic safety training, undergoing a physical, taking a written exam, a driving course test, and an on-road driving test. Applicants will be required to present their foreign registration card, passport, and three color photos when they apply. Traffic safety training is a free audio and visual education that lasts for an hour. It is a prerequisite for those getting a license for the first time in order to take further tests. Applicants can take the safety class at all regional examination offices or at designated driving school locations. The physical checks whether the applicant’s eyesight is impaired. The written tests are available in various languages, including English, Chinese, French and German. Once they have passed the written and driving course exam, they will be provided a temporary driver’s license to take on-the-road driving exam. The driver’s license is issued once the applicant passes the final road driving exam. The total cost of the application process is 55,000 won ($52). The National Police Agency recently published a guide book for foreigners in an effort to facilitate understanding of the process. The guide can be downloaded from the Gangnam Driver’s License Examination Office website in both English and Chinese. |
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来自： darry > 《miscellanea》
