RoadVisa Beta

How to get a driving licence in South Korea

Getting a car licence from scratch, country by country.

Car licence, Class 2 ordinary

Getting your licence in South Korea

Written test questions40
Pass mark (Class 2)60/100
Time for the written test40 min
Written test fee₩10,000
Course + road test fees₩55,000
Road test pass mark70/100

The course (skills) test needs 80/100. Driving school is optional but common, and costs extra.

Before you start driving

2
Learner permitYes. After passing the written and course tests you get a learner permit (₩4,000) for practising on public roads.
Medical checkYes. A physical and eyesight check at the test site (₩6,000) or a hospital.

Required lessons

2
Safety educationA 1-hour traffic safety course (free) before the written test.
Road practiceAt least 10 hours of road practice on a learner permit, at a driving school or with a qualified supervisor, before the road test.

Good to know

8
Minimum age18 for a Class 2 ordinary licence (cars).
Licence validity10 years for a Class 2 licence, then you renew it with an aptitude test.
Exam languagesWritten test in Korean, English, Chinese or Vietnamese. Ask the test site about the driving tests.
If you failWritten test: retake from the next day. Course (skills) test: wait 3 days.
Automatic or manualPassing in an automatic limits your licence to automatic cars.
New driversYour first year is a probationary period. Too many penalty points in that year means losing the licence.
Already have a licence from abroad?Licences from Korea's recognised countries are exchanged with only a physical check. Others take the 40-question written test, with no road test. See the Abroad tab.
Also worth knowing
  • Most learners go through a driving school, which handles the course test and road practice.
  • Call the KoROAD helpline (1577-1120) to check language support before you book.

Step by step

  1. Safety education and medical1-hour safety course and a physical check at the test site.
  2. Written test40 questions, at least 60 points for Class 2.
  3. Course testA short skills test on the test site's track, at least 80 points.
  4. Learner permit and practiceAt least 10 hours of road practice with a learner permit.
  5. Road testDriving on public roads, at least 70 points. Then collect your licence (₩10,000–15,000).

Tips From driving schools and examiners

  • Learn the road test route beforehand. Ask your driving school for its map or video, or go over the route on street view.
  • Wear your seatbelt from start to finish. Forgetting it fails the road test on its own.
  • Running a signal, crossing the centre line, or not giving way to pedestrians or a school bus fails the test on the spot.
  • So does anything that causes an accident or the risk of one, or ignoring the examiner's instructions.
  • Book a weekday afternoon slot if you can, when traffic is lighter. Check the weather too: snow and the summer monsoon make the drive harder.

Based on: Driving Teacher with Anyang Driving School: Road test tips (2023, Korean) ↗

Official links

KoROAD: Safe driving (English guide) ↗Korea Law: Road Traffic Act (English) ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026
Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

Is RoadVisa official?

No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

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An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

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