Random Aptitude Test and Recipients 
Purpose of the Random Aptitude Test
- Suppose a person with a first or second-class driver’s license happens to develop an acquired physical disorder obstructing safe driving. In this case, the person shall receive the irregular aptitude test by the Road Traffic Authority to verify his/her physical disorder does not hinder proper driving (Article 88(1) of the “Road Traffic Act”).
Recipients of the Random Aptitude Test
- A holder of a Class 1 or Class 2 Driver's License (including a holder of an international driver's permit or a mutually recognized foreign driver’s license) must undergo a random aptitude test performed by the Road Traffic Authority if a disability specified in the Article 82(1), subparagraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 of the Road Traffic Act is acquired. (Article 88(1) of the Road Traffic Act)
- You will be subject to a random aptitude test if you fall under any of the following categories. (Article 88(2) of the Road Traffic Act; Article 56(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act)
· A random aptitude test is required if you fall under any of the following categories, or if sufficient reason exists to recognize in you a physical disability that would impede safe driving.
① If a medical specialist judges the driver cannot drive appropriately because she/he has a mental illness, such as dementia, schizoaffective, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder (bipolar disorder), recurrent depressive disorder, oligophrenia, epilepsy, etc. (Article 82(1), subparagraph 2 of the Road Traffic Act; Article 42(1) of the the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act)
② The deaf (limited to licenses for large motor vehicles and licenses for special motor vehicles, among Class I drivers' licenses), the blind (in cases of persons who have lost the sight of only one eye, limited to licenses for large motor vehicles and licenses for special motor vehicles, among Class I drivers' licenses),or persons incapable of sitting steadily due to any physical disability in a leg, spine, or any other part of the body. However, if such person is capable of driving under normal conditions by using a motor vehicle manufactured to suit his/her physical handicap and approved as such, he or she shall be excluded therefrom(Article 82(1), subparagraph 3 of the Road Traffic Act; Article 42(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
③ Disorder of the elbow joint in both arms; complete disability of both arms. An exception can be made when normal driving is enabled by a vehicle designed and approved to accommodate a specific physical disability of the driver. (Article 82(1), subparagraph 4 of the Road Traffic Act)
④ Inability, as medically diagnosed by a specialist in the relevant field, to drive safely due to the use of controlled substances or alcohol. (Article 82(1), subparagraph 5 of the Road Traffic Act; Article 42(3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act)
⑤ A person with an acquired physical disability, where a notice on his/herpersonal information kept by the following heads is given to the Commissioner General of the Korean National Policy Agency: the Administrator ofthe Military Manpower Administration, the Minister of Health and Welfare, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a DoGovernor, a Special Self-Governing Province Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu, the head of an autonomous Gu, the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the President of the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service, the head of a premium rate calculation agency, the president of a mutual-aid cooperative, the head of a medical treatment and detention facility, the Chairperson of the National Pension Service and others(Article 89(1) of the Road Traffic Act; Articles 56(1), subparagraph 2 and 58(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act).
Procedure of Random Aptitude Test
Notification of Random Aptitude Test
- If you are due for a random aptitude test, you will receive a random aptitude test notice by registered mail at least 20 days before your random aptitude test period. (Article 56(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act; Main text of Article 84(1) of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
- If you fail to undergo your random aptitude test within the set period, another random aptitude test period will be set and you will be notified at least 20 days before the said period. (Proviso to Article 84(1) of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
- Your driver's license will be canceled if you fail or miss your random aptitude test. (No. 2 of Attached Table 28 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
Application for Random Aptitude Test
- If you are due for a random aptitude test, submit a random aptitude test application form (Form No. 64 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act) with the following x-documents attached to the Road Traffic Authority within 3 months of the date specified by the Road Traffic Authority. Use Form No. 65 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act if you hold a Class 1 Regular Driver's License or a Class 2 Driver's License. Use Form No. 74 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act if you hold an international driver's permit, and present a form of ID. (Article 56(4) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act; Article 84(3) main text of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
· Driver's license
· Two ID photographs
· Any of the following documents issued within 2 years from the filing of an application for an aptitude test(if a person who received a driver's license for ordinary motor vehicles has lost the sight of one eye, referring to a medical certificate issued by a medical doctor in accordance with Article 17 of the Medical Service Act) must contain the information pertaining to the aptitude being tested (provided that information available by access of administrative information in accordance with Article 36 of the Electronic Government Act may be omitted).
√ A physical examination report issued by a medical clinic, hospital or general hospital
√A notice of the results of a medical examination administered pursuant to Article 52 of the National Health Insurance Act.
√ A medical certificate issued by a medical doctor in accordance with Article 17 of the Medical Service Act.
√ A notice of the results of a physical examination for determining the suitability for military service under Article 11 of the Military Service Act (including a physical examination for volunteers for active duty service).
Postponement of Random Aptitude Test
Grounds for Postponement
- If you are due for a random aptitude test, but are unable to take it during the required period for any of the following reasons, you can submit a random aptitude test application form to the Road Traffic Authority ahead of the deadline to undergo your aptitude test in advance, or you can postpone the test by submitting an aptitude test postponement application form with documents validating the basis of your application for postponementto the Road Traffic Authority, along with a form of ID. (Article 57(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act; Article 85(1) main text of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
· If you are overseas.
· If you are affected by a disaster or calamity.
· If you are immobile due to an illness or injury.
· If you are under restraint by the law.
· If you are on active military duty or require postponement for any other reasons recognizable based on social convention.
- If you do not consent to the access of administrative information as per Article 36 of the Electronic Government Act by the Road Traffic Authority to make the following verifications, you must provide the information yourself. (Article 85(2) of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
· Immigration status (only required if you are applying for a postponement because you are overseas)
· Active military service (only required if you are applying for a postponement because you are in active duty)
Important Notes about Postponement of Random Aptitude Test
- You may postpone your random aptitude test only once. (Article 57(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act)
※ Your driver's license will be canceled if you fail or miss your random aptitude test. (No. 2 of Attached Table 28 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act)
- If your regular aptitude test is postponed, you must receive it within three months from the date on which the grounds for postponement are no longer valid. (Article 57(3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act)