How to Get a Korean Driver’s License: Three Ways for Foreigners and Residents

Last Updated on August 23, 2026

Korea’s public transportation system is absolutely excellent, the Seoul subway alone covers more ground than most tourists ever need, buses connect virtually everywhere, and taxis are reliable. But once you start wanting to see the parts of the country that buses don’t reach, the coastline, the hidden valleys, the places that require a car and a willingness to turn off the main road, you’ll need to know how to get behind the wheel legally.

There are three ways to drive in Korea as a foreigner, and which one applies to you depends on how long you’re staying and whether you already have a license from home.

There are three ways to get a driver’s license here in South Korea:

• International Driving Permit
• Exchange A Foreign License
• Direct Application
• FAQ

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International Driving Permit

Who this is for: Tourists and short-term visitors only.

An IDP is valid for up to one year in Korea and is the simplest solution for anyone visiting rather than living here. If you have any kind of resident’s visa (ARC), an IDP is not a valid option technically, you’ll need a local license regardless of how long you’ve been here in practice. (I say technically, because there are definitely rental companies that will see you as a foreigner and just ask for passport, foreign license, and IDP without every considering you’d be a local.)

While driving with an IDP, carry your passport, your IDP, and your original foreign license with you at all times. If your original license has expired, your IDP is no longer valid either. When renting a car with an IDP, the rental company typically requires that your primary license has been valid for at least one to two years, though the specific requirement varies by company.

• Be sure to have your passport, IDP, and foreign license on you while driving a vehicle.
• If your foreign license already expired, your IDP isn’t valid anymore
• You can use your IDP when renting a car in Korea as long as your main license has been valid for 1-2 years* (*this depends on the company).

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Exchange Your Foreign License

Who this is for: Long-term residents with an ARC who already have a foreign driver’s license.

This is the most common path for expats. The process requires surrendering your home country license to the Korean DMV, but you can get it back. When you leave Korea, even temporarily, just for a departing flight, bring your travel information to the license examination office and trade your Korean license back for the original. When you return, you don’t need to surrender it again. At that point you simply keep both.

Documents required:

• Original foreign driver’s license
• Original passport
• Alien registration card
• 3 passport-sized photos
• Apostille driver’s license: This means that you need to get the document certified at the state level because the US embassy no longer does apostille services
• Certificate of the Facts Concerning Entry & Exit (from birth year to the present)
• Processing fee

Countries with a reciprocity agreement:

Some countries have agreements with Korea that allow license exchange without a written exam. The agreement also affects processing fees. Check the current official Korea Road Traffic Authority list to verify your country and, if applicable, your specific state or region.

If you’re American, your home state matters, some US states allow direct exchange while others require a written test. If you’re state is listed below, you can exchange without a test. If it’s not listed, you may require a written test, driving test, or both.

Asia (26 Nations)	New Zealand, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Macau, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Bhutan, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Australia, Uzbekistan, India (Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra) , Japan, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyz Republic, Kiribati, Thailand, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Fiji, Philippines, Hong Kong
America (28 Nations)	Grenada, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic, Mexico (New Evoreon), Barbados, the Bahamas, Brazil, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Haiti, Antigabada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Uruguay, Chile, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan), Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Peru, USA (Maryland, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Alabama, West Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Arizona, Louisiana, Louisiana, New Jersey)
Europe (35 Nations)	Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Serbia, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Albania, Britain, Austria, Italy, Georgia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Turkiye, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary
The Middle East (12 Nations)	Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Iraq (Arbil), Iran, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait
Africa (38 Nations)	Ghana, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Liberia, Rwanda, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Sao Tome Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Algeria, Angola, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Chad, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Tunisia

Find the Nearest DMV: There is a list of the Driver’s License Examination Offices here.

Take the Aptitude Test and Medical Exam

For this step in the process, you may be required to do a written exam and medical test. Here is what you’ll need to prepare:

• Foreign driver’s license
• 3 color passport size photos
• Processing fee
• Fee for the medical check
• Fee for the medical evaluation

Once you pass the written exam congrats, you have your Korean driver’s license!

A note from personal experience: I took the written test to exchange my Ohio driver’s license. If you already know how to drive, you’ll probably pass, but it requires patience with some translation quirks in the questions. Things you’ve forgotten from your original test come back up, vehicle classifications, truck weight limits. I passed on the first attempt, but only barely. Go in prepared to jog some old memory.

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Direct Application

Who this is for: Anyone who doesn’t have a foreign license to exchange, or is starting fresh.

If you like lengthy and complicated things or just don’t have your license from home or never got one originally, then this is your best option. Honestly, this should be your last resort because there are 7 steps involved in comparison to the last two ways previously mentioned above.

1. Driver’s Education Course
   1. For the first step to getting your license by an application, you have to register for an in-person driving safety course.
   2. The class lasts for 1 hour and you must bring your photo ID with you to get into the class. The good news is, this class won’t cost you a dime.
   3. The class is a safety class and you watch a video. If you don’t understand Korean, ask for the English subtitles to be turned on as some of the answers to test questions will be given there.
2. Medical Check
   1. Do you ever feel like every process in Korea involves some sort of health check? Well, that’s probably because it does, even for getting your license. You are required to get one either at the regional health examination office (it’ll cost you about 6,000won) or at the hospital. Whichever you prefer.
3. Written Exam
   1. The third step out of seven is taking the written exam which consists of 40 questions with no time limit. This is a pass-or-fail situation but you can retake it the next day if you didn’t have any luck the first go around.
   2. Note: If you end up failing it again you have to pass it within the year or you have to do the application process over again.
   3. What do you need for this step? See the list below
      1. 3 color passport-sized photos
      2. Your ID
      3. Processing fee
4. Driving Test
   1. So there are two driving tests that you’ll have to take for this process. This first one is with a driving instructor on a set course. It involves you proving that you can use the basic functions of a car such as your turn signals and windshield wipers.
   2. Keep in mind that there is a timer set for this test. If you don’t follow the time limit to the teeth, you could potentially fail. Essentially it’s a digitally graded exam.
   3. For this you will need:
      1. Your ID
      2. Processing fee
5. Temporary License
   1. If you made it to the 5th step it means that you passed the driver’s test. After that happens you receive a temporary license (similar to a permit in America). This will be valid for approximately 1 year.
   2. You will need:
      1. Your ID
      2. Processing fee
6. Road Exam
   1. This is the real deal driving test which you will have to prove to the driving instructor that you not only know how to use the car but also drive in various settings, and respond to emergencies.
   2. If you don’t pass it the first time, you can take it 3 days after the first try. Keep in mind that you need to pass it while your temp license is still valid.
   3. You will need:
      1. Your ID
      2. Your temporary license
      3. Processing fee

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FAQ

Can I drive in Korea with my foreign license?

No, a foreign license alone is not valid for driving in Korea. You need either an International Driving Permit (for tourists), an exchanged Korean license (for residents), or a license obtained through the direct application process.

Can I drive in Korea with an IDP as a long-term resident?

Technically no. An IDP is only valid for short-term visitors. If you hold an ARC, you need a Korean driver’s license. Some rental companies may not strictly enforce this, but in the event of an accident, your insurance coverage as a resident without a Korean license is not guaranteed.

Do I have to take a written test to exchange my foreign license?

It depends on your home country and, for some countries, your specific region. Korea has reciprocity agreements with many countries that exempt you from the written test. Check the current Korea Road Traffic Authority reciprocity list for your country and state/province.

Do I lose my home country license when I exchange it?

The DMV takes physical possession of it, yes. But you can get it back at any time by presenting departing flight information and swapping your Korean license back for the original. You don’t need to surrender the original license again upon return.

What is an apostille and why do I need it?

An apostille is a government-level certification that authenticates your document for use in another country. For a US license exchange, the US Embassy no longer handles this — you’ll need to get the apostille processed at the state level before arriving in Korea. Check the process for your specific state well in advance.

Where can I find a license examination office in Korea?

The Korea Road Traffic Authority (koroad.or.kr) maintains an updated list of Driver’s License Examination Offices across the country.

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The exchange route is the most straightforward if you’re a resident with an existing license from home. The IDP covers you as a tourist. The direct application is more involved but fully achievable. The important part, whichever path applies to you, is knowing which one it is before you try to rent a car in Jeju and discover the rules have changed since the last time you googled it.

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