I recently got my Korean drivers license and wanted to update the application procedure, testing, tips

and tricks, just to lessen any confusion there may be for interested parties.
My experience is as of August 2019 and is for the English version of the tests. I got my drivers
license in Los Angeles, CA, USA about 25 years ago and have driven AUTOMATIC ever since. So
my commentary will be based on that background. I didn't want to apostille my DL as I thought it was
a hassle and international drivers licenses only last 1 year for work visa holders I am finding out. I
also relied on:
- https://www.reddit.com/…/updated_guide_to_the_drivers_lice…/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSVLvNQ9nUg&t=155s
- also youtubed a bunch of videos.
Note: if you have any visa issues (i.e. misprinted dates, extensions, addresses, etc.), KoRoad will
give you a hard time (even when they recognize you!) and you will have wasted A LOT of time like
me.
I took the 3 tests at the Busan Nambu KoRoad (DMV). They service a little over 1,000 cases so be
patient.
First step is to get an application. I am posting my application after going through the whole process.
The application can be gotten from the center booth of the main building. Get a number from the
ticketing machine located at the front of the island booth. Fill out your application, wait for your
number to be called for window 4?, go to the window and ask to apply. Many of the ladies actually
speak English (one had almost no accent).
The first test is a computerized multiple choice test. First you have to do some things in the building
across the main building entrance. You will need a passport-sized photo and various amounts of
money. Photos are cash, about ₩9,000 I believe. You can bring your own. The lower floor is where
you take an eye test. After that you have to watch an educational video on the 2nd floor. Register
with the 2 ladies in the front and they give you a token with a number on it. That number is your seat
number. Watch the video and at the end, line up in sequence to exit the room so that she can take
your token and scan your thumbprint on the machine to record everything. After that you go back to
the main building to the 3rd or 5th floor and take the computer test. The tests seem to be separated
into 2 parts, one is like local textbook stuff and the second part is actual driving scenarios. If you
have good driving experience, you should be able to pass this test. The results are instantaneous
and you need a stamp from the proctor at the front.
If you pass that, go back to the 1st floor to grab a ticket for window 4. Schedule a date for the drivers
course test and pay. The drivers course is the playground like course across the street north of the
building. Go to the waiting area of the drivers course testing area and wait for officials to come and
take your application and check your ID. You will watch a video while the officials prepare. This
video literally tells you everything that will happen and what is expected, with English subtitles. After
that, the officials will call you one by one over the PA to start the course. Interestingly, they show the
live test results on the TV! It was raining when I was taking the test so I could see almost everyone
failing... I think only 4 people passed (1 manual truck and 3 automatics) out of ~50 when I was called
up near the end of group. Have to check-in at the control tower and then they direct you to a car
number. I got in the car, preped the seat and mirrors, they announced they would start my test on
the PA and..... the computer system was IN ENGLISH! Since it's all in English, there will be no more
timing issues that I've read about. The only tricky part is the 3-point turn/park... I did it in 5 points
since it was raining and I wasn't familiar with that car. The system didn't mark me off for it. The
system tells you when they take off points, but I don't remember which parts I missed, I think 1 or 2
parts.
If you pass that, go back to the 1st floor to grab a ticket for window 4. Schedule a date for the drivers
test and pay. I recommend getting the sheet of 4 courses (A-D) at the front desk on your way out.
Helps a little to study it. On your test date, you meetup at the classroom behind all those windows.
They collect your application, you then watch a video telling you what to do and not do with English
subtitles, and then a Korean official will also give some tips and tricks but I didn't understand
anything. After that, officials will come in and call out names of 3 to 4 persons and separates them
into the first group of 2 or the second group. The official will compare your application to your ARC
and if everything is good, will direct you to the car. The official will tell you who sits up front
(shotgun). The official will drive the compact car at a pretty high speed to the road outside, park it,
and ask the person in the front seat to go to the drivers seat. The official will have both persons to
confirm and sign a tablet, then the driver randomly selects the course they will drive (A or B). I
suggest the one without the U-turn. The directions are IN ENGLISH! The system does not tell you
when you made a mistake. At the end, the driver stops on the other side of the "city", the system tells
you if you passed or not, and you switch seats. Drive back to KoRoad and the official will tell you to
basically park it back in the same area your group left in. The system will tell you if you passed or
not. The official will tell you which parts you got wrong if you did not pass. I didn't pass my first time
because of 2 issues. One was I turned off my blinker too early (-7 points each time). The other one
was I didn't put my gear in neutral when my car was stopped (-5 points each time)... for automatic
drivers this last one is just plain stupid. Online excuses for putting an automatic car in neutral when
stopped revolve around safety and saving gas. The argument that putting a stopped car in neutral is
to prevent the car from rolling if it gets hit is ridiculous... the car will still roll. The more common
argument of saving gas for fuel economy is a pretty bad one as well, citing some cars burn through
fuel when stopped. This is perhaps true for cars from the 1920s and perhaps some military vehicles
(but we are not applying for a military vehicle DL!). A little preposterous that one can fail a drivers
test because of not putting the gear in neutral at a red light... what about U-turns?!?!? the stupidity is
deep on this one.
Once you pass the drivers test, follow the official and the official will stamp your application. Go back
and to the 1st floor to grab a ticket for window 4. Show them your application, a passport photo (for
the drivers license), and some money. Wait about 30 minutes and your DL will be for pick up at
window 2. Congratulations.