Driver's licence exchange checklist

1. Check whether your country can exchange

   Done

   Korea has exchange arrangements with well over a hundred countries and jurisdictions, but the terms differ — and for federal countries they differ by state or province.

   Situation	What happens
   Full exchange country	Written test only (usually), no driving test. Your foreign licence is surrendered and returned when you leave.
   US, Canada, Australia — varies by state or province	Some states exchange fully, others do not. Check your specific issuing authority.
   No arrangement	Full Korean process: written test, skills test and road test, usually via a driving school.

   The authoritative list is held by the Korea Road Traffic Authority. Check it at safedriving.or.kr or call 1577-1120 before you do anything else — the answer determines the entire rest of this checklist.

2. Get your licence verified by your embassy

   Done

   Korea requires confirmation that your licence is genuine and currently valid. Depending on your country this is either:

   • A certificate of authenticity issued by your embassy or consulate in Korea; or
   • An apostilled driving record obtained from your home licensing authority.

   This is usually the slowest step — some embassies issue same-day, others take weeks, and some require you to obtain a record from home first. Start here.

3. Book a slot at a driver's licence examination office

   Done

   Exchanges are handled at driver's licence examination offices (운전면허시험장), not at police stations or district offices. The larger offices — Gangnam, Seobu and Dobong in Seoul, and the main office in each metropolitan city — handle foreign exchanges routinely.

   Go early. Most offices process exchanges in the morning only, and the whole thing is same-day if you arrive with everything.

4. Bring the documents

   Done
   • Your foreign driving licence — the original, which will be held.
   • Embassy certificate of authenticity, or apostilled driving record.
   • Passport.
   • Registration card.
   • Certificate of alien registration facts (외국인등록사실증명) — issued free at a district office or from the Government24 kiosk.
   • Three passport photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
   • Fee — modest, a few tens of thousands of won in total including the medical.

5. Take the medical check

   Done

   Vision, hearing and basic mobility, done on site at the examination office in a few minutes. Bring glasses or contact lenses if you need them for driving — the licence will be endorsed accordingly.

6. Pass the written test

   Done

   A short multiple-choice test on Korean road rules, available in English and several other languages at the major offices. It is not difficult, but it is not free marks either — Korean specifics such as bus-lane rules, school-zone speed limits and penalty structures are all examinable.

   • Study the official English question bank on the Road Traffic Authority site.
   • Pay particular attention to school zones (민식이법) — the penalties are severe and heavily tested.
   • You can retake it the same day if you fail.

7. Collect the licence

   Done

   Usually issued the same day. Your foreign licence is retained and stored — you get it back when you surrender the Korean licence on leaving the country, so keep the receipt.

   Korean licences are renewed periodically with a fresh medical check. Renewal notices go to your registered address, which is one more reason to keep it current.

If your country has no exchange arrangement

You take the standard Korean process, which is well organised and cheaper than most countries:

1. Traffic safety education — a short mandatory session.
2. Written test.
3. Skills test (기능시험) — a closed-course manoeuvre test.
4. Road test (도로주행) — on public roads.

Driving schools (운전학원) bundle the lessons and tests. Some in Seoul and the larger cities run English-language courses; ask before enrolling. Expect a few weeks and a cost in the high hundreds of thousands of won.

Frequently asked

Can I keep driving on my International Driving Permit?

For up to one year from your date of entry into Korea. It cannot be renewed inside Korea — you would have to leave and obtain a new one abroad. For a resident that is a workaround, not a plan.

Will I get my original licence back?

Yes, when you surrender the Korean licence at the examination office on leaving. Keep the receipt you are given at exchange — retrieving it without one is troublesome.

Does the exchange work in reverse when I go home?

Sometimes. Countries with a reciprocal arrangement will exchange a Korean licence back. Ask your home licensing authority before you surrender anything.

Do I need a Korean licence to rent a car?

A valid IDP plus your home licence is generally accepted by major rental firms, but some — and most car-sharing apps like Socar and Greencar — require a Korean licence. If you plan to use car sharing, you need the exchange.