---
title: "Korean Driving Licence — Foreign-Licence Exchange, IDP, and First-Issuance"
country: "south-korea"
service: "driving-licence"
category: transportation
difficulty: complex
estimated_time: "Foreign-licence exchange (Acknowledged-country): same-day, typically 2-4 hours at the Driver's License Examination Office. Non-Acknowledged-country exchange: same-day if the written test passes first attempt, otherwise multiple visits. International Driving Permit: same-day in-person, 30-60 minutes. First-issuance: about 4-8 weeks total including school, learner's permit practice, and exam scheduling."
cost_range: "₩6,000-₩91,000"
last_verified: 2026-05-23
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/south-korea/driving-licence-foreign-conversion-and-renewal/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - "driving-licence"
  - koroad
  - "foreign-licence-exchange"
  - idp
  - "international-driving-permit"
  - "road-traffic-act"
  - "first-issuance"
  - "acknowledged-country"
sources:
  - https://www.safedriving.or.kr/guide/rerGuideEng01.do
  - https://www.safedriving.or.kr/
  - https://www.safedriving.or.kr/guide/larGuide051.do
  - https://www.junggu.seoul.kr/english/content.do?cmsid=14866
  - https://www.junggu.seoul.kr/english/content.do?cmsid=14865
---

# Korean Driving Licence — Foreign-Licence Exchange, IDP, and First-Issuance

**Country:** 🇰🇷 South Korea  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-23  
**Estimated time:** Foreign-licence exchange (Acknowledged-country): same-day, typically 2-4 hours at the Driver's License Examination Office. Non-Acknowledged-country exchange: same-day if the written test passes first attempt, otherwise multiple visits. International Driving Permit: same-day in-person, 30-60 minutes. First-issuance: about 4-8 weeks total including school, learner's permit practice, and exam scheduling.  
**Cost:** ₩6,000-₩91,000

## Required documents

- **Original Foreign Driver's Licence**
  - Validity: Must be currently valid. Suspended, expired, or revoked licences are rejected.
  - Authentication: Apostille from the issuing country's office of authentication, or an Embassy certificate, issued within the past year.
  - _Note:_ Submitted to KOROAD and held under Article 84 of the Road Traffic Act. Reclaim is possible on permanent departure from Korea, voluntary cancellation of the Korean licence, or formal request via the issuing country's diplomatic mission. Unclaimed foreign licences are disposed of after ten years.
- **Passport**
  - Pages required: Identification pages plus entry / exit stamps showing residency history.
  - Copy: Original at the counter; copy accepted for the International Driving Permit application.
- **Alien Registration Card** *(외국인등록증 (Oegug-in Deungrokjjeung))*
  - Required for: Foreign-licence exchange and first-issuance routes. Short-term visitors under 90 days without an Alien Registration Card cannot exchange a foreign licence.
  - Alternative: For IDP issuance only, foreign nationals without a Korean licence may present a Residence Report.
- **Certificate of Entry and Exit** *(출입국사실증명 (Chulipguk Sasil Jeungmyeong))*
  - Coverage period: From the date of birth up to the present. Recent-stay-only certificates are rejected — request the lifetime certificate.
  - Where to obtain: Community Service Center (주민센터) or Immigration Office.
  - _Note:_ Per Seoul Jung-gu guidance, the certificate must cover the full lifetime period from birth to present.
- **Colour Photos**
  - Dimensions: 3.5cm × 4.5cm, taken within the past 6 months.
  - Quantity: Three photos for foreign-licence exchange and first-issuance; one for IDP issuance.
  - Style: Passport-style (no smiling, no hat, no modification). Head approximately 3.2-3.6cm from crown to chin.
- **Apostille or Embassy Certificate**
  - Issued within: The past year, from the issuing country's office of authentication.
  - U.S. update: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul no longer issues licence-confirmation letters. U.S. applicants must obtain an Apostille from the issuing state's office of authentication. U.K. applicants obtain the Apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office.
- **Application Form**
  - Where collected: Provided at the Driver's License Examination Office on the day of application.
- **Korean Driving Licence**
  - Required for: International Driving Permit issuance only. Both Korean nationals and foreign nationals holding a valid Korean licence are eligible.
- **Power of Attorney** *(위임장 (Wiimjang))*
  - Required for: Application by an agent (대리신청 / Daeri Sincheong) only.
  - Plus: Agent's ID card and the agent fee.

## Costs

- **Aptitude test:** 6000 KRW — Class 2 Ordinary and Class 1 Ordinary. Class 1 Large or Special is ₩7,000.
- **Written test registration:** 10000 KRW — waived if Holder of an Acknowledged-Country licence (except U.S. Oregon / Idaho) — Required for non-Acknowledged-country foreign-licence exchange and for all first-issuance applicants. Motorized Bicycle class is ₩8,000.
- **Skill (practical) test registration (optional):** 25000 KRW — First-issuance route only. Class 1 / 2 Ordinary fee shown; Class 2 Small is ₩14,000. Foreign-licence exchange skips the practical test.
- **Learner's permit issuance (optional):** 4000 KRW — First-issuance route only — required before the on-road test.
- **On-road test registration (optional):** 30000 KRW — First-issuance route only. Pass threshold: 70 points or higher.
- **Driver's licence issuance:** 10000 KRW — Standard plastic licence ₩10,000; Mobile IC variant ₩15,000.
- **International Driving Permit:** 7500–9000 KRW — Three published figures appear across primary sources: ₩7,500 (Seoul Jung-gu English Driving page), ₩8,500 (KOROAD English summaries), and ₩9,000 (KOROAD Korean-language IDP guide on safedriving.or.kr). Confirm at the point of application — call KOROAD on 1577-1120 or check the specific examination office's posted fee schedule. Flagged as unverified pending direct confirmation.
- **Application by agent (대리신청) (optional):** 8500 KRW — Foreign-licence exchange by an agent rather than the applicant. Adds Power of Attorney and the agent's ID card to the document list.

## Steps

### 1. Identify the Procedural Route

- Holder of a current foreign driver's licence with an Alien Registration Card: take the foreign-licence exchange route, distinguishing Acknowledged-country and non-Acknowledged-country variants.
- Holder of a current Korean driver's licence wanting to drive abroad: take the International Driving Permit route.
- No current foreign or Korean licence: take the first-issuance route, which requires the full Korean driving examination.
- Short-term visitor under 90 days without an Alien Registration Card: cannot exchange a foreign licence — drive on a valid home-country International Driving Permit for at most one year from entry to Korea under Article 96 of the Road Traffic Act.

> **Tip:** The Korea Road Traffic Authority publishes the Acknowledged Countries list periodically. The current notice recognises 69 countries / 109 regions. Confirm your country's status at the examination office before assembling Apostille paperwork.

### 2. Assemble Documents for Your Route

- Foreign-licence exchange (self-application): foreign driving licence, passport, Alien Registration Card, three colour photos (3.5cm × 4.5cm, within 6 months), Certificate of Entry and Exit covering birth to present, Apostille or Embassy certificate issued within the past year, application form (at the office), and fees.
- Foreign-licence exchange by agent: add Power of Attorney (위임장 / Wiimjang) and the agent's ID card.
- International Driving Permit: passport (copy acceptable), Korean driving licence, one colour photo. Foreign nationals also bring the Alien Registration Card or Residence Report.
- First-issuance: application form, ID (Alien Registration Card for foreign residents; passport for Korean nationals), three colour photos, aptitude-test result, and course-attendance proof from the mandatory 1-hour Traffic Safety Education.

> **Tip:** The Certificate of Entry and Exit must cover the period from your date of birth to the present — recent-stay-only certificates are rejected per Seoul Jung-gu guidance. Request the lifetime certificate at the Community Service Center or Immigration Office.

### 3. Obtain Authentication of the Foreign Licence

_Applies when: Foreign-licence exchange route only_

- Obtain an Apostille from the issuing country's office of authentication, issued within the past year.
- Alternative: an Embassy certificate from the issuing country's diplomatic mission in Korea, where available.
- U.S. applicants: the U.S. Embassy in Seoul no longer issues licence-confirmation letters. Obtain an Apostille from the issuing state's office of authentication.
- U.K. applicants: obtain the Apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office.

> **Tip:** Authentication is the most common cause of rejected applications. Confirm the acceptable route with the specific examination office before travelling to apply.

> **If this fails:** If the U.S. Embassy refuses a confirmation letter and an Apostille is not yet in hand, the only path forward is to obtain the Apostille from the issuing U.S. state. Plan several weeks for mail processing.

### 4. Visit a Driver's License Examination Office *(운전면허시험장 (Unjeon Myeon-heo Siheomjang))*

- Choose a Driver's License Examination Office. Seoul has four (Gangnam, Gangseo, Dobong, Seobu); Busan has two (Bukbu and Nambu); Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Suwon, Yongin, and Jeju each have one major office.
- Allow several hours on the day. English-language counter availability varies by office.
- Submit documents and pay fees at the counter. Cash or card accepted.
- Pass the aptitude test (eyesight with corrective lenses permitted, hearing, motor function).

> **Tip:** Smaller offices such as Yongin, Suwon, or the two Busan sites often process foreign-licence exchanges same-day with shorter queues than Seoul Gangnam.

_Useful phrases:_
- "외국 면허증을 한국 면허증으로 교환하고 싶습니다." (Oeguk Myeon-heojjeungeul Hanguk Myeon-heojjeungeuro Gyohwan-hago Sipseumnida) — I would like to exchange my foreign licence for a Korean licence. — use when Arriving at the foreign-licence exchange counter

### 5. Sit the Written Test

_Applies when: Non-Acknowledged-country foreign-licence exchange applicants; U.S. Oregon and Idaho licence holders; all first-issuance applicants_

- Complete the mandatory 1-hour Traffic Safety Education at the on-site centre before the test.
- Sit the 40-question multiple-choice written test in Korean, English, Chinese, or Vietnamese.
- Pass threshold: 70 points or higher for Class 1 Ordinary; 60 points or higher for Class 2 Ordinary.
- Retake the next day after failure.

> **Tip:** Although the test is offered in four languages, translations may carry unfamiliar technical terms. Study the official Korea Road Traffic Authority question pool in advance — sample sets are available through the safedriving.or.kr portal.

### 6. Complete the Practical Skill and On-Road Tests

_Applies when: First-issuance route only_

- Register for the practical skill test after passing the written test. Pass threshold: 80 points or higher for Class 1 Ordinary; 90 points or higher for other classes. Retake 3 days after failure.
- Obtain the learner's permit (연습면허 / Yeonseup Myeon-heo).
- Practise on public roads under accompanying-driver rules.
- Register and sit the on-road test. Pass threshold: 70 points or higher. Retake 3 days after failure.

> **Tip:** Private driving-school enrolment is the typical preparation path. Tuition is operator-set and varies by school — confirm the fee schedule directly with the school before enrolling.

### 7. Hand In the Foreign Licence and Collect the Korean Licence

_Applies when: Foreign-licence exchange route only_

- Per Article 84 of the Road Traffic Act, the Korea Road Traffic Authority collects and holds the foreign licence on exchange.
- Reclaim is possible on permanent departure from Korea, voluntary cancellation of the Korean licence, or formal request via the issuing country's diplomatic mission.
- Foreign licences not claimed within ten years from the date of exchange are disposed of.
- Collect the Korean licence at the counter — same-day issuance in most cases.

> **If this fails:** If you depart Korea permanently and want the foreign licence back, submit a written request to the Korea Road Traffic Authority before the ten-year disposal window expires. Reclaim via diplomatic mission is the standard fallback for applicants who have already left Korea.

### 8. Apply for an International Driving Permit

_Applies when: International Driving Permit route only_

- Visit any Driver's License Examination Office, designated police station, or International Driving Permit Issuance Center. Incheon International Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) and Gimhae International Airport have on-site counters.
- Submit passport, Korean licence, one colour photo, and the fee.
- Online applications are subject to a daily nationwide quota of 450 IDPs.
- Collect same-day in person; postal delivery for online applications adds 2-5 business days.
- Validity: one year from issuance, non-renewable. Apply afresh after expiry.

> **Tip:** The International Driving Permit is recognised in 100 or more countries under the Geneva 1949 and Vienna 1968 Conventions on Road Traffic. The Korean licence's English-language reverse is recognised directly in some Acknowledged-Country jurisdictions, but the International Driving Permit is the more universally accepted document.

## FAQ

### I have a U.S. driver's licence and just got an Alien Registration Card. Can I drive immediately?

Yes — you may drive on a valid U.S.-issued International Driving Permit for one year from your date of entry into Korea under Article 96 of the Road Traffic Act. To convert to a Korean licence, the U.S. is on the Acknowledged Countries list (with the Oregon and Idaho written-test caveat), so you can exchange without sitting the written test. Begin by obtaining an Apostille from your issuing state's office of authentication; the U.S. Embassy in Seoul no longer issues licence-confirmation letters.

### Does the Korean licence let me drive abroad?

For driving in countries that signed the Geneva 1949 or Vienna 1968 Conventions on Road Traffic, you need a Korean-issued International Driving Permit, available at any examination office, designated police station, or the Incheon and Gimhae airport counters. Validity is one year from issuance and the permit is non-renewable — apply afresh after expiry. The English-language Korean licence (English text on the reverse) is recognised directly in some countries per the KOROAD Acknowledged Countries list, but the International Driving Permit is the more universally accepted document.

### Why do three different International Driving Permit fee figures appear in primary sources?

The Korea Road Traffic Authority Korean-language IDP guide on safedriving.or.kr lists ₩9,000; the Seoul Jung-gu English Driving page lists ₩7,500; and KOROAD English summaries list ₩8,500. The discrepancy reflects variance between the Korean-language and English-language KOROAD surfaces and the Seoul municipal portal. Confirm at the point of application by calling KOROAD on 1577-1120 or checking the posted fee schedule at the specific examination office or airport counter.

### My country is not on the Acknowledged Countries list. What does this mean?

You can still exchange your foreign licence, but you must sit the 40-question written test, in addition to the aptitude test. The written test is available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. The on-road practical test is still waived because you hold a valid foreign licence. Pass threshold is 70 points for Class 1 Ordinary and 60 points for Class 2 Ordinary.

### I am 67 and want to renew my Class 1 licence. What's different?

Per Article 87 of the Road Traffic Act, ages 65 to 74 renew every five years with a fresh aptitude test (eyesight, hearing, motor function). Ages 75 and over renew every three years and must complete a senior-driver traffic-safety education programme before renewal.

### What happens to my foreign licence after exchange?

Under Article 84 of the Road Traffic Act, the Korea Road Traffic Authority collects and holds the foreign licence on exchange. You may reclaim it on permanent departure from Korea, voluntary cancellation of the Korean licence, or formal request via the issuing country's diplomatic mission. Foreign licences not claimed within ten years from the date of exchange are disposed of.

### Can I take the written test in Vietnamese?

Yes — the 40-question written test is offered in Korean, English, Chinese, and Vietnamese at all 26 Driver's License Examination Offices, with the same pass threshold of 70 points for Class 1 Ordinary and 60 points for Class 2 Ordinary. Translations may carry unfamiliar technical terms; studying the official KOROAD question pool in advance is recommended.

### What if I had a U.S. Oregon or Idaho licence?

Although the U.S. is on the Acknowledged Countries list, applicants with licences from Oregon or Idaho must still sit the 40-question written test. Other U.S.-state applicants are written-test-exempt. The aptitude test is required in all cases.

## Local tips

- The Korea Road Traffic Authority Korean-language International Driving Permit guide and the English-language Seoul Jung-gu page show different IDP fees (₩7,500 versus ₩9,000). Carry both figures' worth in cash and confirm at the counter before paying.
- Foreign-licence exchange is fastest at examination offices outside the Seoul Gangnam catchment, where waits are typically shorter. Smaller offices such as Yongin, Suwon, or the Busan Bukbu and Nambu sites often process same-day with under an hour at the counter.
- If you hold a U.S. licence and your authentication paperwork is incomplete, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul will notarise a copy for around $50 per seal but will not issue a licence-confirmation letter. The operative document for KOROAD is the Apostille from your issuing state.
- Bring more passport-style photos than required. Examination offices reject photos that show smiling, hats, or commercial-selfie framing — a fresh set taken at a nearby photo studio for around ₩10,000 is the typical fallback.
- Article 152 of the Road Traffic Act makes driving without a valid International Driving Permit or Korean licence a criminal offence. Short-term visitors must drive on a valid home-country IDP for at most one year from entry.

## Sources

- [Korea Road Traffic Authority (도로교통공단 / KOROAD) — Driver's License Acquisition Procedure (English)](https://www.safedriving.or.kr/guide/rerGuideEng01.do) — accessed 2026-05-23 — _T1_ — First-issuance fees, age requirement of 19 or older for Class 1 Ordinary and 18 or older for Class 2 Ordinary, written-test pass thresholds (70 points Class 1 Ordinary; 60 points Class 2 Ordinary), and the four examination languages (Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese). Specific verbatim formulations: 'Pass Criteria: 1st Class : 70 points or higher / 2nd Class : 60 points or higher', 'Available Languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese', 'Age Requirement: 19 years of age or older', and 'Test Sites in Chuncheon, Gangneung, Taebaek, Chungju, Gwangyang, and Mungyeong do not have physical check-up centers.' Fee schedule: Aptitude test ₩6,000 (Class 1/2 Ordinary), Written test registration ₩10,000, Skill test ₩25,000, Learner's permit ₩4,000, On-road test ₩30,000, Licence issuance ₩10,000 / ₩15,000 (Mobile IC variant).
- [Korea Road Traffic Authority (KOROAD) — Driver's License Exchange procedural framework](https://www.safedriving.or.kr/) — accessed 2026-05-23 — _T1_ — Foreign-licence exchange procedure including Acknowledged-Country rule, agent-application fee of ₩8,500, Apostille or Embassy certificate requirement issued within the past year, return-of-foreign-licence rule under Article 84 of the Road Traffic Act, and ten-year disposal period for unclaimed foreign licences. The deep-link to the dedicated English exchange page on safedriving.or.kr was restructured by KOROAD in 2026 (rerGuideEng02 retired); operational guidance reachable via the safedriving.or.kr portal landing page navigation under Driver's License → Foreign License Exchange. Source content corroborated cross-source with Seoul Jung-gu District guidance (cmsid=14865 and 14866) and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul guidance for U.S.-licence holders.
- [Korea Road Traffic Authority (KOROAD) — International Driving Permit guide](https://www.safedriving.or.kr/guide/larGuide051.do) — accessed 2026-05-23 — _T1_ — International Driving Permit issuance fee of ₩9,000 per Korean-language guide, one-year validity from date of issuance, non-renewable status, application locations (nationwide Driver's License Examination Offices, designated police stations, and airport counters at Incheon Terminal 1 and 2 and Gimhae International), and the daily nationwide quota of 450 IDPs for online applications. Verbatim formulations: '발급일로부터 1년' (valid for one year from issuance date), '전국 운전면허시험장 및 경찰서' (nationwide Driver's License Examination Offices and police stations), and '운전면허증 미소지자의 경우 기타 신분증 제시로 국제운전면허증 발급가능' (non-licence-holders may obtain IDP with alternative ID — applicable to foreigners post-Korean-licence-acquisition).
- [Seoul Jung-gu District Office — English Driving Information page](https://www.junggu.seoul.kr/english/content.do?cmsid=14866) — accessed 2026-05-23 — _T1_ — International Driving Permit fee of ₩7,500 per municipal guidance, one-year-from-entry recognition for foreign-issued IDPs, Apostille versus Embassy certificate framing, and the lifetime-period Certificate of Entry and Exit requirement. Citations: 'one year maximum from the date of entering Korea. An international driving permit shall not be renewed when it expires.', 'A foreigner with a driver's license issued by a nation that accepts international driving permits can receive a Korean driver's license after a health check.', 'a foreigner shall submit his/her foreign driver's license when receiving a Korean driver's license.', and 'Certificate of entry into and departure from Korea (From the date of birth up to the present).'
- [Seoul Jung-gu District Office — Driver's Licenses page](https://www.junggu.seoul.kr/english/content.do?cmsid=14865) — accessed 2026-05-23 — _T1_ — Six-class Korean licence taxonomy (Class 1 Ordinary, Class 1 Large, Class 1 Special, Class 2 Ordinary, Class 2 Small, Motorized Bicycle), 40-question written-test format, and examination-office routing across Seoul (Gangnam, Gangseo, Dobong, Seobu) and other major cities (Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Suwon, Yongin, Jeju). Three-photo and 3.5cm × 4.5cm specification confirmed.

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Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/south-korea/driving-licence-foreign-conversion-and-renewal/