SOUTH KOREAN DRIVER'S LICENSE

KOREAN DRIVER'S LICENSE
WORTH KNOWING
I recommend arriving as early as possible. The entire process takes almost a full day, although I arrived at 8:45 a.m.
Be prepared for limited English skills. There was a lady who spoke English and essentially walked me through the entire process.
Bring about 100,000 won in cash. You won't spend it all, but about 75 won for occasional fees. Afterward, you might want to grab some lunch. There may be a restaurant on site.
Bring passport photos. Up to five photos will be required throughout the day, for reasons that will not be explained.
HOW TO GET YOUR KOREAN DRIVER'S LICENSE
(Based on the Examination Office in Naju, South Jeolla Province)

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First, you attend a safety course where you watch an hour-long video. It's all in Korean, but if you look closely, you'll find some answers for the written exam. I heard there are subtitles, but no one thought to turn them on.
Next, you have to register and take a “physical test” in which your eyes are checked.
Then there's the written exam, which is administered on a computer. 40 questions in English. I didn't really study for it, other than following the instructions in the safety video. A colleague told me beforehand to always answer "good driver." If you really need to study, ask a Korean or foreign friend to look them up online. They're readily available and not too difficult to find.
Next, you'll have to take the driving test "on the track." It's easy. Just show up on time and watch the videos that explain everything to you. This test is easy, and it's almost impossible to fail. You'll have to use things like turn signals and windshield wipers.
Then comes the main test. The driving test, in which you follow a GPS for 5 km, accompanied by a driving instructor and a partner who either lets you drive ahead or decides to make the first move.
After the test, you receive confirmation of whether you have passed and then go back to the office where you wait until your driving license is printed out.
Get your driver's license and get out! Buses or taxis should be waiting nearby, like they did for me in Naju, near Gwangju.
MY KOREAN DRIVER'S LICENSE STORY
A LONG DAY BEGINS
I was completely exhausted, especially with another night in that horrible, mosquito-infested hotel at stake. I sipped a cold brew coffee and got ready while the last World Cup match of the day played on TV. A few moments later, I was outside, scanning the streets for a taxi. This was the first indication that my day was going to be long.

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The trip to this small town in southwest Korea had already cost me a day of my otherwise relaxing vacation, but honestly, I needed some action. I didn't feel like traveling at the moment, as I had a big trip coming up in late summer. Lazy days and scooter rides to the beach had filled my time so far, so what else could I do?

I'd wanted a car for a long time, and to drive in Korea, you first needed a driver's license. My American one had expired, so a simple exchange wasn't possible. I had a series of exams coming up, and time wasn't on my side that day.

NAJU
The taxi pulled up in front of the office in this not-so-picturesque, yet hard-to-reach town. Naju is a small town whose giant pears are considered New Year's gifts throughout the country. To get to this tiny town, you either have to be lucky enough to live in Seoul (direct bus connections) or Busan, or travel to nearby Gwangju and change there.

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Being one of the latter, I had the pleasure of spending a day's vacation in this little gem. The added pleasure of missing my stop made the journey seem even more hopeless, as I had initially assumed the Naju bus station was the final stop.

When I entered the regional transportation office, I was pleased to see some signs in English. I can read and know a few words, but my Korean is more suitable for small talk, taxi rides, and restaurants. As with other people, alcohol helps. In the worst case, serious and sober questions are asked, demanding clear answers. I took a ticket, and when my number was called, the lady at the counter opened her eyes wide.

I knew what was going on. She was desperately looking for someone, and luckily there was ONE employee in the building who could help me through the entire process. The people in the office were extremely nice, and I'm very grateful to them for making the day as wonderful as it could have been.

CHECKPOINTS
As the first tires appeared, my determination took hold. The coffee had done its work. The first step was the most important and the main reason I had to arrive so early. A one-hour safety training session was an unavoidable obstacle, and since I couldn't find any preparation materials online, attending might have been better.

Although the entire video was filmed as a Korean quiz show, its slapstick humor was c

Harmful, albeit cheesy and at times easy to understand. Many possible test answers were hidden within, which made the video seem important to me. The video seemed to be intended just for me, as the rest of the audience immediately fell asleep or continued playing games or talking on their phones. After an hour, I felt ready for the written test, even if my nerves hadn't completely subsided. At least I had a plan.

Next came the routine "physical" test, which only included a brief eye test. Thanks, glasses. The English-speaking attendant stamped my checklist to confirm completion of each checkpoint, and this time she told me to go upstairs and take the written test. It would take 40 minutes, and as always, she wished me luck. The nerves returned.

I handed the slip of paper to someone in the exam room and confirmed that my test would be in English. The exam was computer-based, and I would have 40 minutes to complete it. No preparation. No studying other than the video an hour beforehand. It was the crucial moment, and luckily I remembered a colleague's advice: "Give the 'nice' answer."

ON THE WAY
So I took the test like a good driver. Along with some common sense, I passed! The effects of the coffee wore off and I had to rethink my answers a bit, but it was over. On to the next step.

The day passed faster than expected, and I was ready to get started. It was just before noon, and I knew the country would come to a standstill at 12 p.m. My hopes of a quick finish were dashed when I was told the next test wasn't until 1:30 p.m. I passed the time with some mediocre spicy pork in the basement, knowing there were two more steps left: first, a driving test on the test track, and finally, a driving test on the road. They seemed like the most difficult, so naturally, I poured myself another coffee.

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The wait gave me the opportunity to watch the instructional videos on repeat before the test. I had a feeling there might not be any English instructions for this test, so the videos were a much-needed help. Everything seemed so strict and formal. The tension rose. My name was called, I went to the course, and got into one of the test cars.

My nerves quickly subsided as I completed the test objectives with relative ease. A screen on the dashboard instructed me to activate the windshield wipers, activate the indicators, and shift the automatic transmission from "Park" to "Drive." I passed the course and moved on to the final phase.

That would be the driving test, but first, it was time to wait again. More time to think about the final phase, and also more caffeine. A slight yawn around 3:00 a.m. spurred me on, and since I didn't want to drink another drop of coffee, a Pepsi was enough. I downed it before the examiner called me. Waiting for this test gave me even more time to prepare with videos.

After another 30 minutes, I was off. I checked all the points on the car, got in properly, and drove the 5 km route like a dream. Finally, I parallel parked like a glove and learned: I had passed! I would get my driver's license that very day! Success! After all the waiting and challenges, I had done it. I sincerely thanked the employee who had helped me all day and headed home.

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SUCCESS! RETROSPECTIVE.
It was over, and my mind could finally rest. No more constant states of consciousness. Just relax and drive home. Two bus stations later, Yeosu could never have been more beautiful.

Looking back, I may have been overly dramatic about getting my Korean driver's license, but the whole process was stressful. Add to that the language barrier, and all the official procedures can make your head spin with stress. Perhaps that's due to the driving licenses.

OUR AND YOUR THOUGHTS!
As you can see from my story, this was a caffeine-fueled adventure that gave me the freedom I'd longed for. Compared to the US, getting a driver's license in Korea is much easier and faster. What do you think? If you've gotten your license, I'd love to hear about your experience.