Getting Your Motorcycle License

I can only speak for someone who has a driver's license in America. You can trade in your American driver's license for a Korean driver's license after taking a 20-quesition written test. The Korean driver's license you receive allows you to drive automatic transmission cars. You can see all of your endorsements on the top right of your license. 2종보통 means that you have the basic driver's license. The motorcycle license is actually just an endorsement on your existing driving license as it usually is in the case of your American driver's license.

If your plan is to remain on a 124.99cc or less motorcycle (including most scooters), then you don't have to worry about the motorcycle endorsement. The motorcycle endorsement is called 2종소형.

The first thing you need to do is go to the website:
http://www.dla.go.kr/Servlet/Main

The English version doesn't really do much to help you, but I'm going to assume you have a bilingual Korean friend to help you find info on where one is. The easiest way to set an appointment for the riding test is to create a username/login on the website and find your way to set an appointment online. If you can't find anyone to help you navigate the site, then you could always stop by the testing center to set an appointment in person. If you don't know how to find your local testing center, do a naver search for: "운전면허시험장 [insert nearest big city or your city]". Small cities will generally hold motorcycle license testing once or twice a week, but testing centers in Seoul have them every day.

Here is a video of what you will be dealing with:



I would recommend that you practice riding before you go. The bike you will be using to take the test will be a Hyosung Mirage 250cc. The most difficult part is the first section, which is called "The Crank". It's a narrow laned 90 degree left and then 90 degree right. Despite how easy it might seem, this is actually somewhat difficult and where most people fall off. I practiced in a parking lot and simply tried my best to stay on the white lines that marked the parking spaces.

The rest of the test involves a sweeping S-turn, a straight, and a moderately simple cone/pylon slalom. Besides "the crank" the rest of the riding test is extremely easy, my only recommendation is that you keep some speed and don't get nervous. If you go to slow, the bike will lose a lot of stability and it will be shaky through any of the maneuvers. The trick is to be smooth and cautious, but not too cautious.

Now, how do you fail the test? One ways is if you put your foot down on the pavement. The second way is if an entire tire goes over a boundary line. You can still attain a passing score if only half a tire passes over a boundary line and I've seen people pass when they've toe-tapped the pavement for a moment.

Things you should bring to the testing center:
Your driver's license
Your passport
Your foreigner card (Green card)
Some cash (Approx. 20,000 Won)
Passport photos of yourself

Now, the testing center I went to had someone who would take your photo for a small fee and cut you a passport sized photo, but I can't guarantee that all testing centers will have a photographer so I say it's better to be safe than sorry.