Reciprocity the (Tough New) Rule for Korean Driving Permits for Americans

Joongang Ilbo News (English) ^ | 27 March 2002 | Joongang Ilbo Staff

[AmericanInTokyo]

Reciprocity the rule for driving permits

March 27, 2002

The Korean National Police Agency announced Tuesday that it would apply a principle of international reciprocity in issuing driver's licenses.

Beginning next year, drivers whose licenses were issued in countries not acknowledging Korean driver's licenses will be required to take an additional written test in order to obtain a Korean permit.

Currently, only a simple medical check-up is required for drivers with foreign licenses to get a Korean license. That will continue to be the case for drivers from 52 countries including Canada, France and Germany.

The United States, Japan and Great Britain are among countries that require owners of Korean driver's licenses to take written exams. They now will be subject to the reciprocity rule.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Got to hand it to those Koreans. They walk softly but carry a big stick on 'reciprocity' (as opposed to the US which often does the opposite in international trade matters).

If there is a written test issued in English for Koreans to pass in the USA (and they often don't) buy golly they'll turn around and then force a Korean language written test on Americans and others in Korea if THEY want to drive over there!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Take the streetcar.

[AmericanInTokyo]

True. W/ GREAT! public transport in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, etc., one can really get around Asia without a POV. Try that in the US and you'll be stuck for hours in the Holiday Inn on off of some interstate for hours twiddling your thumbs with no place to go.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I road the streetcar everyday when I was a kid in Yokohama (Army brat)in the 1950's. A round trip ticket was 25 yen, a little more than a nickle. The dollar was worth 365 Yen at the time.

[AmericanInTokyo]

That'll probably cost you 120 yen these days at 132 yen to the dollar.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Someone said they had ripped out the street car tracks anyway.

[thatsnotnice]

Hmm. It may not be the same now, but in the late ‘70’s I know that owning a car was so expensive that very few did. Those that could afford a car could afford a driver, so not many people really needed a license for themselves.

Interesting too at the time was that you could go a month without seeing an American car. Mainly because an American car in Korea would cost about ten times what it would cost in the states due to import taxes and fees. If we really want to embrace the spirit of reciprocity they would never sell another Hyundai in the U.S.

[Rubber Ducky]

I got my Japanese driver's license in the old days before Japan embraced reciprocity. At that time, the rules were that a license from any country recognized as having road rules somewhat compatible with Japan would be given a Japanese license providing it had been issued at least 6 months before the person arrive in Japan.

When I went in to get mine, 90% of those applying were Japanese who had by-passed the $3K driving schools by getting U.S. licenses while they were abroad.

Of course, I have had to answer a few simple questions every time the license has been renewed but, thanks to U.S. states which don't recognize Japanese licenses, the gaikoku menkyo kirikae program has been yanked for newbies.

The Japanese, at least, do not yank your American license as a condition to get one of theirs, a courtesy not afforded by most states in the U.S. should you admit to having a foreign license.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In most places, yes. Most streetcars are now in regional large cities, like Hiroshima, Hakodate, etc.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It's all a scam for the driving schools and photo shops anyway. Any kind of loophole (such as getting a Hawaiian license and then trying to get a Japan license, as a lot of Japanese did) I am sure have long since been closed.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We lived in Yokohama on Avenue D, about two miles south of the PX-Commissary complex, which I understand is now been turned back to the Japanese. Isezaki-cho shopping center was also nearby. Too bad the streetcar is gone. Cabs are expensive.

[Redbob]

Big Difference: Koreans prolly get to take their driver's test in KOREAN in California!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thats probably one of two or three states that allow it.

[Rubber Ducky]

California is probably the only state that will also let you take the test in braille as well. </sarcasm>