Overseas Koreans can renew Class 1 driver's licenses at diplomatic missions
Koreans living abroad will no longer need to fly back to Korea to update their driving credentials, as overseas embassies and consulates begin processing Class 1 driver’s license renewals and issuing international driving permits, the government said Monday. The service begins Monday at 188 diplomatic missions, according to the Overseas Koreans Agency, the Korean National Police Agency and the…
Starting Monday, overseas Koreans can renew their Class 1 driver's licenses at diplomatic missions across the globe. This new service will also see the issuance of international driving permits, according to the government. The Overseas Koreans Agency, the Korean National Police Agency, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD) are responsible for implementing this change, which begins at 188 diplomatic missions.
In Korea, there are two types of driver's licenses. Class 1 permits its holder to operate larger vehicles, including trucks up to 12 tons in weight. Conversely, Class 2 licenses are primarily for passenger cars. Diplomatic missions have been handling driver's license paperwork since 2013. However, they were previously limited to renewing Class 2 licenses and reissuing lost or damaged ones, as the Class 1 renewal process required an aptitude test that included an eye exam.
Under the new system, applicants can now have their Class 1 licenses renewed in Korea, provided they have a domestic health checkup or physical exam on record from the past two years. Once the license is renewed domestically, it is sent to the relevant diplomatic mission for the applicant to pick up. Those without a recent health checkup or physical exam will not be able to obtain a license through this new process.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
