Converting Your Foreign Driving License in Korea — Complete Guide

If you are in Korea on a short visit (tourist, business) or have recently arrived and are not yet a long-term resident, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is the simplest solution. Korea is a member of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so an IDP issued by your home country is valid in Korea alongside your original national license. Important rules: ① You must carry both the IDP and your original domestic license — the IDP alone is not valid ② IDPs are valid for up to 1 year in Korea ③ An IDP does NOT extend automatically — once it expires (or you have been a resident for 1 year), you should convert to a Korean license. IDPs can be obtained from your national automobile association (AAA in the US, AA in the UK, CAA in Canada, etc.) before departure.

Korea maintains bilateral license exchange agreements with many countries where direct conversion is possible without any written or practical test. As of 2025, the direct exchange list includes: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Singapore, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and others. This list changes — always verify with the Korean Road Traffic Authority (도로교통공단 / KOROAD) before your appointment, as additions and removals occur. For direct exchange, your license must: ① Be a genuine government-issued license from the listed country ② Be currently valid (not expired) ③ Show the license class/category (car, motorcycle, etc.) ④ Be accompanied by an official translation or be bilingual in English (Korean translators are available at most test centres for a small fee).

Nationals of countries not on the direct exchange list but whose driving systems are considered broadly equivalent may be required to pass a written knowledge test before receiving a Korean license. The written test covers Korean traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. The test is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages at KOROAD test centres. A minimum score of 60/100 is required to pass. Study materials (Korean Road Rules booklet) are available free at all test centres and on the KOROAD website (safedriving.or.kr). No driving test behind the wheel is required for this category — passing the written test is sufficient.

A small number of nationalities may be required to undergo both the written knowledge test and a practical driving test (driving circuit test and/or road test) before receiving a Korean license. This is rare and typically applies to countries with no bilateral agreement and where the local licensing standard is considered significantly different from Korean standards. If required, the practical test is the same as for new Korean drivers: a circuit test (lane changes, parking, basic manoeuvres) and optionally a road test. Pre-test driving lessons at a licensed Korean driving school (자동차운전전문학원) are available and highly recommended if you are unfamiliar with Korean road conventions.

Regardless of the exchange route, bring all of the following to your 운전면허시험장 appointment: ① Your original foreign driving license (not a photocopy) ② Your passport ③ Your Alien Registration Card (ARC) — required for all long-term residents ④ A certified Korean translation of your license (required if the license is not in English or Korean — official translators are available at the test centre) ⑤ One passport-size photo (taken at the centre is fine) ⑥ Application fee (approximately KRW 7,000–10,000) ⑦ If your license was issued by a country with an exchange agreement, a certificate of driving history from your home country's licensing authority may be requested (not always required — the officer at the counter will advise). Note: an expired foreign license cannot be exchanged — it must be currently valid at the time of conversion.

Step 1: Go to your nearest 운전면허시험장 (driver's license test centre). Major centres are in Seoul (도봉, 강남, 서부, 강서, 도봉), Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and all major cities — find the nearest via KOROAD website. No appointment is generally needed for license exchange. Step 2: Present your documents at the foreign license exchange counter. The staff will verify your documents and tell you which route applies (direct exchange, written test, or full test). Step 3: If direct exchange only, submit documents and wait — the Korean license card is typically issued the same day or within 1–2 business days. Step 4: If a written test is required, sit the test on the same day at the test centre computer terminal. If you pass (60+/100), proceed to the license issuance counter. Step 5: Have your photo taken at the centre and pay the issuance fee. Your Korean Class 1 or Class 2 driver's license is issued as a credit-card-sized card.

When you convert your foreign license to a Korean license, Korean immigration/KOROAD policy requires that your original foreign license be returned to your home country's licensing authority or otherwise secured. In practice, most test centres stamp your foreign license as 'converted' and return it to you — you cannot legally use it to drive in Korea after conversion. Some nationalities choose to renew their home country license independently to maintain it as a valid document for driving abroad. If you later leave Korea permanently, you can apply to have your Korean license converted back to your home country format at the relevant licensing authority — this is a separate bilateral process depending on the country.