Getting a Driver’s License in Korea: My Wife’s Experience (Part 1)

• 日本語
• 한국어

My family decided to live outside of Seoul —the air is cleaner, the cost of living is cheaper, and life is a little slower. But living in the Korean countryside also meant we would need a car to go almost everywhere. And I couldn’t keep relying on my husband. So I had to start the process of getting a driver’s license in Korea.

Prior to this, I had driving experience in my home country. So I felt a little more confident that getting a driver’s license in Korea would not be too difficult. And fortunately, the driving test in Korea does not really test your “real world” driving ability. It tests your ability to pass a test. I’ll share more about this later on.

Also, just a quick note before we dive in: like almost everyone else, I applied for the Class 2 Automatic License. In Korea, “Class 1” is usually for trucks and large vans (stick shift), while “Class 2” covers your standard passenger cars. Unless you plan on driving a delivery truck, Class 2 Automatic is exactly what you want.

Steps for Getting a Driver’s License in Korea

The first thing I did was jump straight onto YouTube to get some initial information. I found this YouTube channel really helpful for a step-by-step guide.

In essence, I learned there are 4 distinct steps to getting a driver’s license in Korea:

1. Step 1: Mandatory Safety Lecture. (A 3-hour class on Korean laws, safe driving and filling in your Driver’s Lincense application).
2. Step 2: Written Test. (The theory exam taken on a computer).
3. Step 3: Course Test. (Driving within school grounds to test various driving skills).
4. Step 4: Road Test. (Driving on the road with an examiner).

Crucial Tip: For all these steps, make sure you always have your Alien Registration Card (ARC) on you.

Although the process seemed complicated at face value, I realized it could be possible in some cases to finish getting a driver’s license in Korea within two weeks. But this depends on your driving ability and how well the scheduling of classes and tests works in your favour.

Why I Chose this Driving School

As recommended by most foreigners who have gone through this process, the easiest route to getting a driver’s license in Korea is to join an English-spreaking driving school.

You can try to do it all yourself, but the school offers the mandatory lecture hours and driving lessons required. The school also helps you through the steps, they handle the booking of the tests, and take care of the application processing.

Because my Korean is not the strongest, I searched specifically for “English driving schools” and Anyang Driving School (http://www.seoulda.com/) came highly recommended on several forums and blogs.

The Cost of Getting a Driver’s License in Korea

You will be looking to spend around 850,000 KRW (won) in total.

Here is what that generally covers:

• The mandatory safety lecture fees.
• Mandatory practice hours for the Course Test (usually 4 hours).
• Mandatory practice hours for the Road Test (usually 6 hours).
• Miscellaneous expenses like insurance, test fees, and the physical cost of issuing the license.



Pro Tip: Please note, some minor fees (usually small insurance payments) will be cash only. I recommend having at least 50,000 KRW in cash on you whenever you go to the school, just to be safe.

At Anyang Driving School: Registration Day

One of the best things about Anyang Driving School is that you do not need an appointment for your first visit. You can just walk in to sign up Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm.

However, if you want to start immediately: Go for your first visit on a Saturday before noon (12 pm).

Why? Because the mandatory safety lecture is held every Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm. If you go around 11:00 am or 11:30 am, that gives you the perfect amount of time to fill out the paperwork, pay the fees, and then be on time to attend the lecture at 1 pm.

When you sign up, they will give you a Student Card. You will use it to clock in and out for the three-hour lecture and every driving lesson later on. The system is strict about attendance, so don’t lose this card and don’t be late (because there will be a penalty for both).

I’m not sure if I also booked my first practice driving lesson at the same time (for two weeks later), but remember: it is required to pass the written test before you can physically get behind the wheel for a lesson at the school.

Step 1: The Safety Lecture

The class is a “once-off” requirement. It consists of 3 sessions of 50 minutes each.

The class covers some useful information about driving in Korea—for example, the concept of “Bi-bo-ho” (비보호) or “unprotected left turns,” which are everywhere here. It also guides you through filling in the application form for your driver’s license, which is necessary when getting a driver’s license in Korea.

However, because the mandatory driving practice hours in Korea are so short (only 10 hours total are required), there is simply not enough time to learn all the rules of the road during the driving lessons. This lecture tries to provide enough additional information to help you with driving safely in Korea.

My honest opinion: I still think the amount of driving instruction for all schools in Korea is insufficient, especially if you have zero driving experience. If you have never driven a car before, you might find yourself needing extra hours beyond the required hours.

The class I attended was pretty straightforward. The lecturer spoke English and was very friendly. But do note, he spoke a little quickly with a heavy Korean accent. If you are unfamiliar with the sound of the Korean language or struggle to understand English spoken with a strong accent, some parts might be tricky to catch.

My Strategy: Sit at the front of the class, closest to the TV. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

The most important thing I took from this lecture was: The Korean Drivers Test (both the Course and the Road) does not really test your driving ability. It tests how well you are able to memorize the course and perform specific actions within a designated time. It is about meeting the criteria of the test.

Step 2: The Written Test (Theory)

Once you have completed the lecture on Saturday, you are cleared to take the Written Test.

You cannot take this at the driving school. You must go to a government Driver’s License Center. These are located across Korea.

Personally, this was the most difficult part of the entire experience.

Why? Two reasons:

1. The Environment: Since it’s a government building, everything is entirely in Korean.
2. The Test: The test itself can be taken in English, but the translation can be slightly awkward, and there are some genuinely tricky questions about Korean driving laws (fines, points systems, etc.).

Through the school, it is possible to take a shuttle bus with other people needing to take the test for an additional fee. They take you on a scheduled day and time. However, I decided to go myself with my husband. I didn’t want to be pressured to take the test before I was ready. By going on my own, I could choose a day during working hours when I felt fully prepared.

How I Prepared (and Why You Don’t Need to Spend Money

Funnily enough, I had already downloaded a “Korean Driver’s License Written Test” app on my phone months prior. I had opened it once or twice, but the questions seemed to complicated- so I gave up pretty quick. But now that I had decided to get my driver’s license, I was motivated.





I gave myself one week to prepare.

If you are motivated to pass, I think studying for at least a few days gives you the best chance.

There are many ways to study. Some schools sell textbooks, and there are resources online. Personally, I do not think it is necessary to spend money to prepare for the written test.

The free apps you can download give you more than enough information to succeed in getting a driver’s license in Korea..

• My method: I didn’t even read the theory section. I just did the practice tests over and over again.
• The Logic: A lot of questions can be answered with common sense. For example, a photo question might ask “What is the safest action?” and the answer is usually “Slow down” or “Yield.”
• Memorizing: The rules regarding speed limits, weight limits, penalty points, and fines cannot be guessed. You just need to memorize those.

After a few days of practice tests on the app, I was repeatedly getting a 60%+ pass grade. (By the way, 60% is the passing grade for the Class 2 Automatic license.)

Theory Test Day: The Trip to Ansan

Exactly a week after joining the driving school and sitting through that safety lecture. my husband drove me to the Ansan Driver License Center because it was the closest one to us.

My Checklist for Test Day:

• My ARC (Alien Registration Card) — Essential!
• Cash / Card for fees.
• The application form I filled in during the safety lecture.
• Two passport-sized photos. (Do not forget these! You need them for the application).

My husband helped me navigate the registration process: first the eye test, then the payment window, and finally reserving a seat for the theory test. We did this all in the main hall.

If you are alone and do not speak Korean, it might feel intimidating because the staff generally don’t speak English. But I am sure you can manage with little to no Korean because the process is smooth and the staff will be able to direct you to the next step in the process.

The Exam Room

My husband could come with me for the eye test (which took about 30 seconds), but for the actual computer-based theory test, I had to enter the room alone.

After handing your application form to the staff, they tell you your seat number, and you sit down. From there, all the instructions on the computer screen are in English.

The Experience:

• Time Limit: 50 minutes. This felt like a very comfortable amount of time. I didn’t feel any pressure to rush.
• Reviewing: You can go back and check your answers before submitting.
• The Result: As soon as you click the final “Confirmation” button, the screen tells you immediately if you passed or failed.

Once you see your result on the screen, you walk up to the front where the staff are sitting. They stamp your application form with a “PASS” or “FAIL” mark.

Note: If you fail, do not be disheartened. You can take the test again one day after.

With my stamped application in hand, I went back down to the main window to complete the administrative side of things. Depending on the time of day, the Driver License Center can be quite busy. Expect to be there for about 1 to 2 hours total.

Conclusion: Is Getting a Driver’s License in Korea Difficult?

So far, my experience of getting a driver’s license in Korea was straightforward. Memorizing some of the information about fines, weight limits and other Korean driving laws was tough, but not impossible. Other than that, taking tests will always be a little nerve-wracking but if you do your due diligence with the theory test you should be fine.

If you are currently in the process of getting a driver’s license in Korea, my biggest advice is to download the apps and just start practicing. You can do it!

(Stay tuned for Part 2, where I tackle the driving course!)

If you are looking for a complete overview of navigating the roads here, check out my Complete Guide to Driving in Korea for Expats.