· Road Traffic Authority Driver's License website : http://dl.koroad.or.kr (English, Chinese, Japanese available)

(1) Acquisition of a Korean         driver's license There are two types (Class 1 and class 2) in Korean Driver's License. Those two types differ depending on what kind of car you will be driving. In order to obtain the license, you need to pass three types of tests; a written test, course-driving test, and a road test. You can take tests in license examination offices and institute. ■ Procedure for the acquisition of    driver's license 『Road Traffic Authority Driver's License website (http://dl.koroad.or.kr) → driving test information → procedure for getting a license』 Detail information for the procedure of each step will be obtained. Also through its website, civil application, test application, license information inquiries and application of issue are possible.

 

■ Incheon's DMV Incheon's DMV operates the function experience center and the subject assistance system for foreigners. · Address : 1247, Aam-daero, Namdong-gu, Incheon · Phone : 1577-1120

 

Driver's license class program for the multicultural family

Each police station in Incheon operates a driver's license class for multicultural family (married immigrants and
children), foreign workers and foreign students and you can call each police station to ask program schedule and detail contents.

• Ganghwa Police station : (032)930-0393   • Gyeyang Police station : (032)363-6376
• Namdong Police station : (032)718-9376    • Nambu Police station : (032)717-9376
• Bupyeong Police station : (032)363-1376   • Samsan Police station : (032)509-0376
• Seobu Police station : (032)453-3376        • Yeonsu Police station : (032)453-0376
• Jungbu Police station : (032)760-8376

※ Wonderful driving website (www.wonderfuldriving.com)
     It provides the information to acquire driver' license for a multicultural family.

• Place for an examination and procedure information.
• Lecture related to the subject, the skill, the driving and sample questions provided.
   Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian available, becoming a membership required.    
   (With 7 languages, mobile app lecture is provided)

(2) The case of switching from foreign driver's license to domestic driver's license

• The switching from foreign driver's license to domestic driver's license is possible roughly in 130 nations that make
   contract mutual agreement and the license's distinction between truth and false is confirmed through required document 
   which is issues by foreign Korean embassy, through aptitude test (physical examination) and examinations of subject,
   domestic driver's license will be issued or exchanged. (Exemption from subject examination for countries whose driver's
   licenses are accepted in Korea)

• International acquired license can be recognized the validity under the full license which remains the available period. 
  Temporary licenses or Practice licenses can not be exchanged and issued into a domestic license.
 - Where to apply : DMV Nationwide

※ Countries whose driver's licenses are recognized in Korea
     Korea recognizes the driver's licenses of certain countries and issues the Korean driver's license without requiring
     applicants to take any tests. The National Police Agency announces a list of these countries every year.
   · The driver's license which is issued the country which accepts Korean driver's license : only aptitude test (physical
     examination) will be done.
   · The driver's license which was obtained from the nations not accept Korean driver's license : aptitude test (physical
     examination) and multiple choice (20 questions) will be done.
   · Others : Exchange or issue of foreign driver's license is limited to domestic regular Class 2 license

※『KoROAD Driver's license service homepage (http://dl.koroad.or.kr) → Foreign Driver's License & International Driving
     Permit』Countries whose driver's licenses are recognized in Korea may be verified here.

(3) International driver's license

He who obtains a international driver's license can drive in Korea within the validity period (1 year from the entry date),
only vehicle model which is written in the international driver's license can be driven.

(4) Vehicle registration and insurance

① Vehicle registration
  • New registration
   - After purchasing of vehicle, new registration has to be done in the gu office of residence address
   - New registration will be substituted by dealer with free of charge, and required document is same as Korean.   
     (Identification required)
   - Before official registration is done, a temporary license plate is issued then it is possible to drive for a vehicle in
     10 days.

② Car insurance (liability insurance)
  - In the purchase of a car, the liability insurance must be joined and in case of an accident should be prepared for.
  - As insurance money is different depending on the ensured contents, so a driver should choose a correct insurance
     which is fitted for driver's own driving style and be joined.
  • Car liability insurance
    Car owners driving a car with two other people dead or should be mandatory liability insurance to pay reparations 
    to the victims in case of injury (Cars Damages Act Article 5)
  • Without joining (delay) the liability insurance, penalty imposition standard (2015.3 standard)
 

Division	Not joined within 10 days	Not joined exceeding 11 days	Maximum Fine
Private Car	15,000won	Additional Cost: 6000 per day	900,000won
Commercial Vehicle	65,000won	Additional Cost: 18,000 per day	2,300,000won
Motorcycle	9,000won	Additional Cost: 1,800 per day	300,000won

  - After the period of joining a member of liability insurance, even 1 day is delayed to be a member then the penalty of
     liability insurance will be imposed.
  - If a driver is found out 1 time without joining of liability insurance, over 400,000 won fine is imposed and within 
    1 year, found out over 2 times, sent to the prosecutor's office.