Driving with a Foreign-issued International Driver's Permit
Countries That Issue International Driver's Permits You Can Use to Drive in Korea
- A holder of an international driver's permit issued overseas by an authority that is a party to the following convention, treaty or agreement can use said international driver's permit to drive in Korea for 1 year from the date of arrival. (Article 96-(1) of the Road Traffic Act)
√ 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic
√ 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
√ Convention, treaty or agreement on international driver’s license recognized by Korea and a foreign country
Types of Vehicles You Can Drive with an International Driver's Permit
- The holder of an international driver's permit can drive the types of vehicles specified on his or her international driver's permit. (Article 96-(1) of the Road Traffic Act)
- The holder of an international driver's permit cannot drive commercial vehicles defined by the Passenger Transport Service Act or the Trucking Transport Business Act. (Article 96-(2) of the Road Traffic Act)
- The holder of an international driver's permit can drive vehicles rented in accordance with the Passenger Transport Service Act. (Article 96-(2) of the Road Traffic Act)
Restrictions on Driving with a Foreign-issued International Driver's Permit
Example of Restrictions on Driving with a Foreign-issued International Driver's Permit
- In any of the following circumstances, an individual driving in Korea with a foreign-issued international driver's permit may be prohibited from driving with the international driver's permit by the commissioner of a district police agency for up to one year. (Article 97-(1) of the Road Traffic Act)
√ If the aptitude test is missed or failed.
√ If the individual is involved in a traffic accident, regardless of who is at fault.
√ If the individual is a Korean national with a canceled or suspended driver's license who is still in the disqualification period.
√ If the individual has violated a law, order, or disposition pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles.
- An individual who is prohibited from driving with an international driver's permit shall submit his or her international driver's permit to the commissioner of a district police agency who issues the prohibition. (Article 97-(2) of the Road Traffic Act)
- In this case, the international driver's permit can be returned if requested by the holder when the prohibition is lifted or when the holder is departing Korea during the period of prohibition. (Article 97-(3) of the Road Traffic Act)
※ An individual caught driving in Korea without an international driver's permit, including driving when prohibited and driving on an expired international driver's permit, is subject to up to one year of incarceration or a fine of up to three million won for driving without a license. (Article 152-1 of the Road Traffic Act)
- You cannot drive with a foreign-issued international driver's permit in Korea while your Korean driver's license is disqualified. (Article 96-(3) of the Road Traffic Act)
※ An individual given a sentence graver than a fine (including suspension of execution) for driving in Korea with a foreign-issued international driver's permit while his or her Korean driver's license is disqualified will be barred from holding a driver's license for one year (or six months for a motor bicycle driver's license) from the date of infringement (date of license cancelation if the license was canceled after being caught driving with a suspended license). (Article 82-2-1 of the Road Traffic Act) If caught more than three times for this infringement, the individual will be barred from holding a driver's license for two years from the date of infringement. (Article 82-(2)-2 of the Road Traffic Act)
※ You are eligible for a driver's license even in the disqualification periods described above if a sentence lighter than a fine is confirmed, a suspension of sentence is confirmed, or if a protective disposition is decided in accordance with a suspension of prosecution or Article 32 of the Juvenile Act. (Article 82-(2) of the Road Traffic Act)