Drive Abroad: How to Obtain a Korean International Driving Permit

Obtaining a driver’s license is much easier in Korea than in many other countries. Furthermore, once you have a Korean license, you are only a few steps away from being able to drive in more than 130 countries.

First, visit one of the regional KoROAD offices. Bring your passport or a copy of your passport, Korean driver’s license, one passport-size photo (3.5 x 4.5cm or 3 x 4cm), and a credit or debit card for government revenue stamps; the offices do not accept cash. If none of the KoROAD offices are near you, it is also possible to apply at the nearest police station; however, you will need to drop by the post office in order to get a government revenue stamp prior to visiting the police station.

Second, fill out the application form and pay the 8,500KRW fee. After just a few minutes, you will receive your brand-new Korean international driving permit, which allows you to drive abroad for 365 days.

Before you drive outside of Korea, you need to make sure that your travel destination is the member country of the Geneva or Vienna Conventions. These are international treaties for diplomatic relations between independent countries; the member countries have agreed to recognize the certification and make it valid. Note that you cannot drive in China with the Korean international driving permit, but you can in Hong Kong and Macau.

There are three things to keep in mind when you drive. You must be able to identify yourself with your passport, Korean driver’s license and the International driving permit together at all times. Second, be aware of your expiry dates. Lastly, double check that your international driving permit and your passport share the exact same name in the correct order. For more information, check the Korean Road Traffic Authority (RTA) website at http://dl.koroad.or.kr/license/en/sub/interLic.jsp.