Driving in Korea on an Australian licence

Good news: you probably won't have to sit a driving test. Less good news: you'll be on the wrong side of the road, in Seoul traffic.

The short version

Visiting or just arrived? An International Driving Permit (IDP) from Australia plus your Australian licence lets you drive, but only for up to a year and you can't renew it in Korea [1].
Living here? Swap your full Australian licence for a Korean one at a KOROAD driver's licence test centre once you have your Alien Registration Card [1][2].
The Australian embassy in Seoul certifies your licence for the swap, for A$90 by appointment, instead of an apostille [3].
Costs in Korea are small: a ₩6,000 physical (eye) check and ₩10,000–₩15,000 for the licence card [2].
Watch the right-turn rule. Since 2023 you must stop before turning right on a red signal, and police fine drivers ₩60,000 [4].

IDP or Korean licence?

The two routes suit different people.

	International Driving Permit	Korean licence (conversion)
Who it suits	Visitors, the first months after arrival	Residents with an ARC
Where you get it	In Australia, before you leave	KOROAD test centre in Korea
How long it lasts	Up to one year, not renewable in Korea [1]	Years, renewed in Korea
Your Australian licence	You keep and carry it	Held by KOROAD until you leave [1]
Hire cars	Accepted with your Australian licence	Accepted

The IDP route

Korea only issues IDPs for Korean licences, so get yours from your state motoring club in Australia before you fly [1]. Carry it together with your Australian licence and passport. Once the IDP expires, you can't legally drive on it, whatever the date on your Australian card says [1].

An IDP is fine for a working holiday, a short contract or your first few months. If you're staying longer, convert.

The conversion route

Korea lets residents exchange a full foreign licence for a Korean one. It's a swap, not an add-on: KOROAD holds your Australian licence and gives it back when you leave Korea and return the Korean one [1]. Only full licences qualify. Learner, provisional (P1 and P2) and probationary licences are not accepted [1].

That has two Aussie consequences:

You won't have your Australian card while you're in Korea. That's a problem if you fly home and want to drive. Plan for it, or check whether your state can issue you a replacement or digital licence.
Renew your Australian licence before it expires. Some states let you renew from overseas, some don't. Our living-abroad guide on your Australian driver's licence abroad covers the state differences.

Do Australians have to sit a test?

Korea exempts drivers from the written test if their licence comes from a country that recognises Korean licences [2]. Most Australian states and territories do recognise Korean licences for licence transfer, so Australians usually only take the physical aptitude test, which centres on an eye check.

There's a catch. KOROAD's English conversion guide says Australian licence holders under 25 must pass the written test even if they hold a full licence, unless they hold one of the exempt visa types [2]. The written test is multiple choice and offered in English [2]. If you're under 25, read up on Korean road rules before your visit.

Converting your licence: step by step

You must apply in person; agents and friends can't do it for you [2].

Get your ARC. Conversion is for registered residents, so wait until your Alien Registration Card is issued [1]. See your ARC in Seoul.
Book the embassy certification. The Australian Embassy in Seoul certifies a copy of your Australian licence for A$90, payable by card in Australian dollars only. You must bring the original licence [3]. KOROAD accepts embassy confirmation or an apostille, dated within one year [2].
Get your certificate of immigration facts (출입국에 관한 사실증명). This shows your entries and exits, and KOROAD asks for it to cover from your birth year to now [2]. You can get it at a community service centre or online through the government's Gov24 site.
Take photos. Three colour photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, taken within the last six months [2].
Go to a test centre. Seoul's KOROAD driver's licence test centres are in Gangnam, Dobong, Gangseo and Seobu [5]. Arrive at least an hour before the 5pm close, or before 4pm if you need the written test [2].
Pass the physical and collect your licence. Pay ₩6,000 for the physical, then ₩10,000 for a standard licence or ₩15,000 for the mobile IC version [2].

What to bring

Original Australian licence (full, not provisional)
Passport with your entry stamps or records
Alien Registration Card
Embassy certification or apostille, under a year old
Certificate of immigration facts
Three photos
Cash or card for fees

KOROAD warns that staple marks or tampering on certificates, or a name mismatch between your licence and passport, can lead to delays or a rejection [2]. If your licence has a different surname from your passport after marriage, bring proof. The process can take several hours on the day, so don't book anything tight afterwards [2].

Driving in Seoul: what's different

Right-hand traffic

Korea drives on the right, with the steering wheel on the left. Your instincts will pull you to the left lane after turns and at roundabouts for the first few weeks. Practise in a quiet area before tackling the Gangbyeon Expressway at peak hour.

The right-turn rule

This one catches Australians and Koreans alike. Under rules added to the Road Traffic Act in 2023 [4]:

If the straight-ahead signal is red and you're turning right, stop completely at the stop line, crosswalk or intersection entry before turning.
After turning, stop again if a pedestrian is crossing or about to cross the crosswalk.

Police run regular crackdowns. The fine is ₩60,000 for a car and ₩70,000 for a van, plus demerit points [4].

Cameras, apps and parking

Speed and signal cameras are everywhere in Seoul, and fines are posted to your registered address. Keep your address updated with immigration.
Use a Korean map app. Kakao Navi, T map and Naver Map give accurate turn-by-turn directions and camera warnings. Google Maps still doesn't offer driving directions in Korea.
Parking is the real cost. Apartment parking may be limited to registered residents, and street parking is tightly controlled. Many Australians in Seoul own no car at all.

Insurance and accidents

Third-party car insurance is compulsory in Korea, and hire companies include basic cover. If you crash, call 112 for police and 119 for ambulance. Don't move the car until you've photographed the scene, unless police tell you to. The Australian embassy can give you a list of lawyers but can't intervene in a traffic case. See our guide to consular help abroad.

Do you even need a car?

Seoul's subway and bus network is fast, cheap and clean, and taxis are reasonably priced. Most Aussies in the city drive only for weekends away or when kids and gear make public transport painful. Hire a car when you need one, on your Korean licence. Our guide to getting around Seoul covers the alternatives.

If you've just done the conversion and want to share which test centre was quickest, post in Cooee South Korea, our Facebook group for Australians in South Korea.

Driving in Korea on an Australian licence: IDP, conversion and the right side