To drive in Korea you can use an International Driver's License or, if you are a long-term resident, you can obtain a Korean driver's license - this can be done in one of the two ways described below.

Short-term visitors can use an International Driver's License.

An International Driver's License is as valid as a Korean driver's license during the term of its validity. You must also cary your regular driver's license with you if you are using an international driver's license in Korea. However, if you are a long-term resident, you must obtain a Korean driver's license.

Long-term residents can either exchange their driver's license for a Korean one or apply for a local license. If you are given a Korean license by the Korean Driver's License Authority (DLA), your home country license will be held by the DLA and will be returned to you before you depart Korea, on vacation or permanently. Just bring your fixed flight departure itinerary to a DLA office.

EXCHANGING your license for a Korean one is an option if you are from a country that recognise Korean driver's licenses. Exchanging means just that - you will have to hand in your foreign driver's license in exchange for a Korean one. Your license will be returned to you when you leave the country. If you don't want to give up your license, you can apply for a Korean license. The difference lies mainly in the tests. For both options, you have to undergo a physical exam. However, the exhange option exempts you from the other tests. 

Exchange Rquirements: 

1. You must be from one of the below listed countries.

2. Apply in person at a Driver's License Agency (proxy applications are not accepted). If you don't need to take a test, you can go to the Seoul Global Center. If you are required to take a written test in order to exchange your license, then you must go down to the DLA office to do so. Whether or not you have to take this test depends on your visa status and which citizenship you hold. To find out if you do have to take the test contact 02)2075-4127 and ask for the driver's license issuing desk.

3. Bring your Alien Registration Card (ARC). Those people who are legal residents but who are not issued an ARC must bring a record of their entries/exits. 

4.Bring 3 photos (3cm x 4cm) 

5. Bring your passport. 

If your license is not from your home country, you must produce an official letter to prove that you resided in the issuing country for more than 90 days. For example, an UK citizens with a Canadian passport, will have to prove that s/he was a resident of Canada for more than 90 days.

6. Bring your foreign driver's license

a. If your driver's license is not in English, you must bring a translated and notarised copy of the license. The translation must inlcude the issed date and validity period of the license.

b. If your driver's license doesn't indicate the date on which it was issued, you will have to obtain a certification letter providing that information.

c. The license must be a full and valid license. It cannot be a permit, a temporary, motorcylce, etc. license.

d. An certificate from your embassy is required unless you are from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, UK. (Update March 2010: US drivers now need a notarized embassy certificate to get a license. It is possible to schedule a notorial appointment on-line. The cost of the embassy certificate may be around USD50.00 or the equivalent in won)

7. You will have to undergo an eyesight and hearing (aka physical) test.

8. You will have to pay W17,000 which includes the cost of the physical test and the cost of the license.

Countries That Recognise Korean Driver's Licenses:

Africa: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Republic of the Congo, Demoractic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Republic of South Africa, San Tome and Principle, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Americas: Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay 

Asia:  Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam 

Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Switzerland, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom 

Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen 

Getting Back your Driver's License:

To get back your dirver's license you must present yourself at the DLA office.

You must bring your passport and your airline ticket with you (e-tickets are accepted).

OBTAINING a Korean License if you are from a country that does not recognise Korean Driver's Licenses of if you don't want to surrender your driver's license. The procedure is the same for both foreign residents and Koeran nationals.

Requirements:

1. Apply in person at a Driver's License Agency (proxy applications are accepted under certain conditions).

2. You must be 18 years of age or over

3. Bring your Alien Registration Card (ARC). Those people who are legal residents but who are not issued an ARC must bring a record of their entries/exits.

4. Bring your Passport

5. Bring 3 photos (3cm x 4cm)

6. You will have to take a written test and driving tests, as well a physical test and Safety course.

a. Written Test - about 50 or so questions - is available in English, Chinese, French, German, and Japanese. The DLA's have written materials available to help you prepare. The written test costs W23,000 (this includes the cost of the physical)

b. Driving Tests - course driving and real driving - are required.The course test costs W15,000 and the real (road) test costs W21,000.

c. Safety class takes about 3 hours (depends on where you live if there is one available in English or not) and costs W12,000.

Korean driver's licenses are valid for 7 years, except for those 65 or older who must renew every 5 years.

RE-ISSUANCE of a lost/damaged driver's license is available at any of the 26 driver's license test sites accross the country or at the License Section of aNational Police Station.

Required documents:

For a lost license:

 1. Alien registration card and passport picture for application

2. Picture required when applying for a temporary driver's license at the police station

3. Alien registration card, passport or public official card required when picking up the license 

For a damaged license:

1. ID card and a passport picture required for application.

2. ID card, passport or public official card required when picking up the license 

3. Fee: W5,000

Notes:

1. You can drive for 20 days on a temporary driver's license.

2. Whenever you change your address, you should take your driver's license to the gu office so that the change can be recorded on it as well as on your alien registration car. 

3. Test Sites – English translation is not available at all sites. Try callilng 02-1577-1129. If that doesn't work, go to through 02-1330 (the KTO help line). They will provide some translation for you and possibily identify where there may be English staff.

DRIVER'S LICENSE AGENCY 

Main Office:

Switchboard: (02)1577-1120 (recording in Korean - no English speakers)

E-mail: helpdesno answer, you may want to follow-up by contacting 02-1330)

Address: 438 Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul