The CRAZY Truth About Getting Your Driver’s License as a Foreigner in Korea (Anyang Driving School Saved Me!)

lewishooper1
Aug 27
6 min read

Dojeon Media's team member Lewis Hooper learned to drive in South Korea, and you can too! He shares his secret weapon for passing the rigorous driving exam!

Image: Driving School Seoul - Photo: drivingkorea.au

Let's face it, learning to drive anywhere can be a daunting and challenging task, and learning to drive in a foreign country makes things even more daunting.

That said, it is often a straightforward process, and with the right approach and attitude, it can be smooth sailing. Many foreigners have successfully obtained their Korean driver's license, and you can as well!

Is the Driving Test in the UK Tough?

If you haven't heard, the UK driving test is notorious for a simple reason, which is that only half of test takers pass. Yes, that's right. The UK driving test is the toughest in the world, and for me, when I learnt to drive at the age of 16, I was simply not in the right mindset, and despite taking on-road practical lessons, I was unable to pass the rigorous theory test.

It's a brutal gauntlet starting with a two-part theory exam, including a mind-bending hazard perception test. Then comes the practical: navigating real-world roads, executing precise maneuvers. Then, when driving independently, all under the hawk-eye of an examiner, where even tiny slips mean instant failure. It's not just a test of driving, it's a battle of nerves and precision that I was simply not ready for. This led me to put off learning to drive for some years, 14 more years to be exact, as I never actually needed a car in my day-to-day life in the UK.

Your Blueprint to a Korean License

Fast forward to my time in Korea. After four years in Korea, I decided enough was enough, and it was finally time to get behind the wheel and learn to drive again. Generally, there are two main routes to getting your Korean driver's license, and the process is A WHOLE lot simpler than it is in the UK, not to mention it is also a fraction of the price.

Step 1. Three-hour classroom theory.

Before you do anything, I found a driving school. Since my Korean is not amazing, I registered at Anyang Driving School just outside of Seoul, as they offered the theory lesson and all driving lessons in English.

Before I could even get behind the wheel, I had to attend a mandatory three-hour classroom theory session. This is not just a formality; it's a foundational step designed to ensure all prospective drivers understand the essential rules of the road and how to drive safely in Korea. Here, I learnt about road safety and also what the courses at my school would be like, with key details that I would need to remember for the testing system later on.

Step 2. Self-study and Theory test.

Once I had completed the three-hour theory in the classroom, I was then able to go to a local Government driving center in order to take the dreaded theory test. Before I did this, I downloaded a practice app, which consisted of thousands of possible questions that I was able to practice.

I opted to take the automatic test this time, as I had heard that it was easier, and also with the advancement of cars nowadays, I felt that it was better for me. Depending on whether you choose automatic or manual, the test will be slightly different for the on-road training later on, and also for the theory. This is where your knowledge of Korean traffic laws, signs, and safe driving practices is formally assessed.

The theory test is a computerized, multiple-choice exam consisting of 40 questions. Fortunately for foreigners like me, it's available in several languages, including English, Chinese, and Vietnamese, removing a significant language barrier. You'll typically have an hour to complete the test, and most people finish well within that time. When I took the test, most of the questions were the ones that I had practiced that very morning, which I was thankful for, and I had mainly multiple-choice questions, with one video and 2 pictures.

I PASSED first time, and I was so excited, I could not wait to get out of the office and start the next steps.

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Step 3. Driving Course Test (Skill Test)

So this is the part that I thought looked straightforward; however, I was proven wrong and ended up having to take this part of the test twice.

A score of 80% or higher is generally required to pass, and your driving school will give you a sheet with all of the deductions. Before taking the closed track test, I had four hours of lessons split up into one-hour or two-hour blocks. During the lesson time, we went through the different buttons in the car and how to operate the wipers, etc., as well as practicing the course.

This practical test takes place on a closed course at the examination office or your driving school, as it was in my case. It's designed to assess your fundamental driving abilities, including maneuvers like the "T-parking" (perpendicular parking), which was the part that I ended up failing on the first time, hill start, emergency stops, and using indicators. The test is often automated, with voice commands (available in English) guiding you, and a computer system scoring your performance. Precision is key, as even minor errors can lead to deductions.

For me, I failed on the "T-parking" part, as the track is censored as well as timed, which meant that when I reversed back, I hit a small corner of the the sensor, and when I tried to rectify I also hit another sensor and then I timed out which took my score down to 70% and therefore I was unable to complete the rest of the test. This led me to re-book a further one-hour lesson and a test again the following week.

This didn't get me down too much, as I was fully motivated to learn, and on my second test, I passed the course at 80% and I was happy with that.

Image: Anyang Driving School Seoul - Photo: Lewis Hooper

Step 4. On-Road Driving Lessons and Exam

For the on-road lessons, I was really not too nervous about this part, as I had experience driving on the road in the UK when I was learning to drive many years ago; however, Korean roads are very different, so I made sure to listen to my instructor very carefully.

My driving school gave me a sheet again with the scoring, and the four routes that I would be practicing and need to memorize for my test. The road lessons were fine, and it was more of a case of learning the actual routes, as the test itself will only have verbal instructions from the computer, such as "in 600 meters, turn right".

After taking six hours of on-road training, I bit the bullet and booked in for my on-road test. To say I was nervous would have been an understatement, and I felt sick the entire morning; however, I arrived at the center twenty minutes early and was able to take my test right away.

Because there were four courses, A, B, C & D, the computer randomly selected a course for me to take from the database, and I was given the course that I wanted, which was course B. I wanted course B, because it was one of the slightly easier routes in my opinion, with fewer turns to memorize.

In my car was the instructor and another girl who had just taken her test before me. The reason for this is that there used to be a lot of corruption in the past, and instructors passing students for bribes, so now there are always have to be three people. I didn't let that put me off, and I carried on with the test.

I PASSED! 100% no mistakes! It only took around ten minutes, and that was it, signed and stamped, I was good to go! I was so happy!

The school can send off for your driving license; however, as it was early in the day, I went to the Government office myself and signed a few forms with my pass certificate and paid the 15,000 KRW (USD 11.00) and was issued my Korean driving license in both Korean and English.

The Time and Cost

From day one of walking into the classroom to take the theory, all the way to being handed my driving license, it took me around three and a half months. I could have taken all the steps closer together; however, with my schedule, it wasn't possible, and I was really happy with this time.

Compared to the UK, where the process would have cost around USD 4,000, it cost me around USD 750. Please, however, make sure that your country recognizes a Korean driving license when you return; thankfully, the UK does.

For more information:

http://www.seoulda.com/