When driving abroad, other than in South Korea, you need to obtain an international driver’s license. Prior to that, the country you plan to drive in must be a signatory to either the Geneva or Vienna Convention.
Currently, South Korea’s driver’s license is recognized in a total of 135 countries. You can verify the list of countries where South Korean driver’s licenses are recognized through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular service.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs List of Countries Recognizing South Korean Driver’s License: http://www.0404.go.kr/consulate/consul_license.jsp
“International Driver’s License: A Necessity for Driving Abroad”
An international driver’s license is essential for driving overseas. Originally, it could only be obtained at police stations or license examination centers. However, since July 2018, it has also been available at Incheon International Airport.
“Obtaining an International Driver’s License at Incheon Airport”
You can obtain an international driver’s license at the Police Security Center on the 3rd floor of Departure Hall in Terminal 1 at Incheon Airport. It is located between counters F and G.
The international driver’s license holds the same validity as your passport and is valid for one year. To use it abroad, you must have both the international driver’s license and your passport along with your South Korean driver’s license. If you lack any of these three, you won’t be able to use it, so be sure to have them all.
Details for obtaining an international driver’s license at Incheon Airport can be found below.
“Incheon Airport International Driver’s License Service”
- Operating Hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
- Lunch Break: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Required Documents: 1 passport-sized photo, driver’s license, passport
- Issuance Fee: KRW 8,500 (Card payment only)
- Issuance Time: Average 5 minutes
At the Incheon Airport International Driver’s License Issuance Center, you can also take the driver’s license aptitude test and renew your license. However, in this case, you need to have both your driver’s license and flight ticket, and the fee is KRW 2,500, payable by card only.
As you explore various services offered at Incheon Airport, you’ll find that international driver’s license issuance is another convenient option. It can be a useful service to utilize when needed.