Exemption Expansion for General Driver's License Tests if You Have a 'Gun Unjeonmyeonheo'

National Police Agency Revises 'Driver's License Work Guidelines'
Expands Military Vehicle Types Exempt from Testing

Military vehicle. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The system that exempts individuals who obtained a 'military driver's license' from taking the general driver's license test is being expanded. Whether the test is waived depends on the type of vehicle driven in the military, and the scope of this exemption is being broadened.

According to the National Police Agency and the Korea Road Traffic Authority on the 23rd, the police recently revised the 'Automobile Driver's License Work Guidelines' and expanded the exemption criteria for driving license tests for those with military driving experience. Under the current Road Traffic Act, individuals who have experience driving military vehicles equivalent to automobiles for more than six months during military service are partially exempt from the driver's license test.

The core of this guideline revision is the expansion of the types of military vehicles eligible for test exemption. Previously excluded vehicles such as the jeodokcha (military command vehicle) have now been included, as well as the 1/4-ton class 'K-15X' vehicles commonly known as 'jipcha' (Jeep) or 'Retona', mountain operation vehicles, and the 5/4-ton class 'K-35X' vehicles known as 'Dodge'. If one can prove driving experience of these vehicles for more than six months, they can be exempted from the test when obtaining either a Class 2 regular or Class 1 regular license.

The K806 and K808 wheeled armored vehicles, which began deployment to field units in the second half of 2018, and the K-917 series vehicles equipped with and launching the Air Force's representative surface-to-air missile 'Cheongung' have also been included in the exemption list under the revised guidelines. Those who have driven these vehicles are exempt from the test when obtaining a Class 1 large vehicle license. A police official explained, "As many newly commissioned military equipment have recently been introduced, we revised the guidelines to reflect this and reduce the inconvenience in obtaining licenses."