"Chinese Tourists May Be Allowed to Drive in Korea"... Conditional Permission Under Review

Issuance of Temporary Driving Permits for Short-Term Residents Under Review

The police are considering allowing Chinese short-term residents to drive in Korea under certain conditions.

Group tourists from China visiting Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

During a National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee audit work report on October 16, the National Police Agency announced that it is reviewing a plan to recognize driver’s licenses issued by China, but with added requirements: Chinese nationals would need to go through a reporting procedure upon entry and apply for a separate “temporary driving permit.” The period of permitted driving would be limited to a maximum of one year.

Previously, in June, the police conveyed this proposal to the Chinese side through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but have not yet received a response from China.

Because China is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, international driver’s licenses cannot be used there. As a result, while Koreans can drive in China during short-term stays, Chinese nationals have not been allowed to drive in Korea, resulting in an imbalance.

The two countries attempted to negotiate a mutual recognition agreement for driver’s licenses in January 2019, but talks have stalled since the COVID-19 pandemic, and no progress has been made. Consequently, there is currently no way for Chinese short-term residents to legally drive in Korea.

The police stated, “Until we receive feedback from the Chinese authorities, we will devise effective measures to ensure systematic management, taking into account traffic safety and other considerations.”

Meanwhile, the police are also reviewing the introduction of a “simplified autonomous driving license” in preparation for the era of self-driving vehicles. The police explained, “Currently, autonomous vehicles are in the early stages of commercialization and are manufactured and operated in various ways depending on the manufacturer and technology level, making it difficult to introduce a uniform licensing system. However, we agree on the need to introduce a simplified autonomous driving license in the long term.”