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Korean Driving Licence — Foreign-Licence Exchange, IDP, and First-Issuance
Document Checklist
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.
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.
외국인등록증 (Oegug-in Deungrokjjeung)
Alien Registration Card
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.
출입국사실증명 (Chulipguk Sasil Jeungmyeong)
Certificate of Entry and Exit
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.
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.
위임장 (Wiimjang)
Power of Attorney
Required for: Application by an agent (대리신청 / Daeri Sincheong) only.
Plus: Agent's ID card and the agent fee.
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