Driving in South Korea with a US license, and getting around Seoul without one

A US license alone won't let you drive in Korea. An International Driving Permit covers your first year, and after that you'll swap your state license for a Korean one. Plenty of Americans in Seoul never bother, because the subway is cheap, clean and goes almost everywhere.

The short version

• You can't drive in Korea on a foreign license by itself. You need an International Driving Permit (IDP), which lets you drive for up to a year from your date of entry [1].
• To keep driving, exchange your US license at a license examination office. You'll need your ARC, an apostille for your license and a stack of documents [2][3].
• Some US states have a deal with Korea that skips the written test; others need a 40-question test, offered in English [2][3].
• Seoul subway fares start at KRW 1,550 (about USD 1.16) with a transit card, since June 28, 2025 [4].
• The KTX gets you from Seoul to Busan in about two hours 15 minutes on the fastest trains [5].

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (USD 1 = KRW 1,333.99) [6].

Your first year: the International Driving Permit

Korea and the US both recognize the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP. With a valid IDP and your US license, you can drive in Korea for a year from your date of entry [1].

How Americans get one:

1. Get it before you leave the States. In the US, IDPs are issued by AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance; skip websites selling "international licenses," which aren't the real thing.
2. Bring a passport photo and your valid state license.
3. Carry both the IDP and your US license whenever you drive.

The catch: the permit itself is valid for one year from its issue date [1]. If you got it months before your move, your Korean driving window may be shorter than you think. Mark the date and plan your license exchange before it runs out.

Exchanging your US license for a Korean one

Once you've registered as a foreign resident and have your ARC, you can swap your state license for a Korean Class 2 ordinary license. Foreigners who've been in Korea for fewer than 90 days without registering can't exchange [2]. You apply in person; no one can do it for you [3].

Which states skip the written test?

KoROAD splits applicants into "acknowledged" countries, which only need a health check, and others, who also take a written test [2]. For US states, it depends on your state's deal with Korea.

• The Korean embassy in Washington lists 14 states whose license holders are exempt from the written exam: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. The page is undated [7].
• KoROAD's own guide says Oregon and Idaho holders still take the written test despite mutual recognition [3].
• The list keeps growing. The Korea Times reported in April 2026 that Montana became the 30th US jurisdiction to waive testing for Korean drivers [8]. Whether a newer deal also exempts Americans from your state in Korea is something to confirm with the license office before you go.

If your state isn't covered, don't sweat it. The written test is 40 multiple-choice questions and comes in English [2].

Documents to bring

Get the apostille sorted before you leave the States. Requesting one from overseas by mail takes weeks.

Fees and steps

1. Go to a driver's license examination office. Seoul has several; call ahead, since KoROAD warns the process can take a while [2].
2. Submit your documents for review. Arrive well before 4 p.m. if you need the written test [3].
3. Take the health check (an eye test, basically): KRW 6,000 (about USD 4.50) [3].
4. Take the written test if required: KRW 10,000 (about USD 7.50) [2].
5. Pay for the license: KRW 10,000 (about USD 7.50) for a standard card in English and Korean, or KRW 15,000 (about USD 11) for a mobile IC card [3].

Ask what happens to your US license during the exchange. If the office keeps it, find out how to get it back before a trip home, because you'll want it for a rental car stateside.

Driving in Seoul: what's different

Korea drives on the right, so the basics will feel familiar. But Seoul isn't Phoenix.

• Traffic and parking are tough. Apartment complexes often have tight garages, and street parking is scarce.
• Cameras are everywhere. Speed cameras are common, and Korean map apps warn you about them.
• Drinking and driving is taken very seriously. Korea's legal limit is 0.03% blood alcohol, stricter than the 0.08% in most US states. Use a designated-driver service (daeri unjeon) after a night out.
• Maps. Google Maps doesn't give driving directions in Korea. Use Naver Map, KakaoMap or T map; see our guide to Naver Map, Kakao and getting around Seoul.

Getting around without a car

T-money and transit cards

A T-money card is the Korean answer to a MetroCard or Clipper card. Buy one at a convenience store or subway station, load it with cash and tap it on buses, subways and many taxis. Many Korean debit and credit cards have transit built in, which saves a step once your bank account is open. Seoul also sells a monthly unlimited pass called the Climate Card, which is worth pricing if you commute every day.

Subway fares

Seoul-area subway fares went up on June 28, 2025 [4]:

Early birds save: on weekdays before 6:30 a.m., an adult card fare is KRW 1,240 (about USD 0.93) [4]. Base fares cover the first stretch, and longer trips cost a bit more. Free transfers between subway and bus within a time window make a card the obvious choice over cash.

Buses and taxis

Seoul's buses are color-coded by route type, and the subway system covers most of the city. Taxis are cheap by US standards; Kakao T is the app most people use to hail one.

The KTX and intercity trains

For weekend trips, the KTX high-speed train is the move. Seoul to Busan, about 400 km (250 miles), takes about two hours 15 minutes on the fastest trains. Economy fares start around KRW 59,800 (about USD 45) and first class around KRW 83,700 (about USD 63), according to a January 2025 guide [5]. Korail's website works in English, and you can book up to a month ahead [5].

Need a ride recommendation or a spare car seat? Ask in our community group for Americans in South Korea.

Sources

1. KOTRA Invest Korea: Living in Korea (December 2021, PDF)
2. KoROAD Safe Driving: Foreign license exchange (English)
3. KoROAD: Exchanging a foreign driver's license (English)
4. Asia Economy: Seoul-area subway fares rise by 150 won (June 2025)
5. Wise: How to take the KTX train from Seoul to Busan (January 2025)
6. Federal Reserve: H.10 foreign exchange rates
7. Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA: Driver's license reciprocity
8. The Korea Times: Montana joins growing list of US states waiving driving tests for Koreans (April 2026)

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