Get an English Driver's License for an Additional 2,000 KRW to Drive in 33 Countries
No Need for International License or Overseas Translation Notarization with English License Info on Back
The front side of the driver's license is in Korean, but for an additional 2,000 won, you can receive an English version of the license on the back side.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Are you aware of a one-page driver's license that allows you to drive immediately overseas?
The "back side" features an English version of the driver's license, enabling you to drive abroad using the domestic driver's license without any additional procedures in the future.
On the 23rd, the Busan Southern Driver's License Examination Office of the Korea Road Traffic Authority announced that it issues English driver's licenses that can be used immediately overseas without separate administrative procedures.
Until now, Korean citizens had to obtain an international driver's license before departure or receive a "translation notarization" of their driver's license from the Korean embassy in the respective country after departure to drive abroad during travel or business trips.
If you obtain the English version of your domestic driver's license on the back side, you can use it for driving abroad without any additional procedures.
To eliminate these inconveniences, the Korea Road Traffic Authority has been issuing English driver's licenses since September 2019. The English driver's license is issued with license information such as name, date of birth, license number, and vehicle types allowed, printed in English on the back of the existing driver's license.
As of July 20, 2020, the countries recognizing the English driver's license total 33, including New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Guam, Canada (12 provinces including Ontario), Peru, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Oman, Turkey, Switzerland, and Cameroon.
International driver's licenses can be used in 98 countries that are parties to the Geneva Convention, but they have a validity period of one year, requiring renewal every year with associated time and costs.
The English driver's license shares the same renewal period as the existing domestic driver's license and can be used in 33 countries without complicated procedures.
However, the English license does not serve as an identification card overseas. Carrying your passport is mandatory. The period during which you can drive with the English driver's license varies by country, and most allow only short-term use of about three months, so for long-term stays, you should check usage requirements with the embassy before departure.
The English driver's license can be applied for at 27 driver's license examination offices nationwide, including the Southern Driver's License Examination Office, police station civil service offices, and the Safe Driving Integrated Civil Service website. Same-day issuance is possible by visiting the Southern Driver's License Examination Office.
Required documents include the existing driver's license (or a valid ID if lost) and a photo (passport-style color photo taken within the last six months). The fee is 10,000 KRW, which is only 2,000 KRW more than the cost of issuing the Korean license.
An official from the Southern Driver's License Examination Office said, "The renewal period for license holders is mostly 10 years, except for elderly drivers. Given the nature of licenses that are not frequently issued, it will be useful to obtain the English license with an additional 2,000 KRW fee during renewal or reissuance."
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