One year, no extension, and a road test that has to happen inside it. Everything the permit lets you do — and the conditions attached.
On-road practice on the designated examination routes
Validity
1 year
Extension
None
Supervisor
Required
Practice sign
Mandatory
What a Korean learner's permit is and how you get one
A Korean learner's permit is issued once you have completed the three-hour road safety education, passed the written test and passed the skills course test. It permits practice on public roads with a qualified supervisor in the car and a 주행연습 practice sign displayed, and it is what allows you to sit the road driving test. It is valid for one year and cannot be extended. If it expires before you pass the road test, both earlier test passes are lost and you begin again from the written test.
Ask about your Korean learner's permit
Already hold a permit and running short of time? Tell us the issue date and we will work backwards.
The basics
What a Korean learner's permit allows
It is not a licence. It is permission to practise on public roads under conditions, so that you can reach the road test.
You may
Drive on public roads for the purpose of practice
Drive with a qualified supervisor in the car
Take on-road lessons with a certified instructor
Sit the road driving test
You may not
Drive alone
Drive without the practice sign displayed
Carry passengers or goods for payment
Treat it as a substitute for a full licence in any other context
Getting one
How to get a learner's permit in Korea
It is not applied for separately. It arrives as a consequence of passing the first two stages.
Step 1
Complete the road safety education
Three hours of mandatory theory. Our English session runs every Saturday from 13:00 to 16:00 — arrive by 12:00 with your Alien Registration Card.
3 hoursEnglish
Step 2
Pass the written test
At a licensing examination centre, Monday to Friday, available in English. 60 out of 100 for Class 2, 70 for Class 1.
Mon–FriEnglish
Step 3
Complete course training and pass the skills test
Four hours on the closed circuit, then the skills test at 80 out of 100. Conducted at our academy.
Pass 80/100
Step 4
The learner's permit is issued
With the skills test passed, you hold a learner's permit and may begin on-road practice. It is valid for one year.
Valid 1 year
The clock
How long a Korean learner's permit lasts
1yrLearner's permitFrom issue
6moSkills test deadlineAfter finishing theory
3moTraining validityFrom your start date
The road test must be passed while the permit is valid. Let the year run out and the permit cannot be extended — you go back to the written test and start the sequence again. This is the single most expensive mistake available in the Korean licensing process.
Where you may drive
Where you may drive on a Korean learner's permit
Ordinary public roads
Practice is intended for normal roads, and in particular the designated examination routes you will be tested on. This is where your instructor will take you.
Restricted environments
Expressways and comparable high-speed roads are not appropriate for learner practice. If you are unsure whether a particular road is suitable, ask your instructor before driving it.
Supervision
Supervision rules for Korean learner drivers
Someone qualified must be beside you
A learner may not drive alone. The supervising person must hold a full licence of the appropriate type and must have held it long enough to qualify — a driver licensed for a few months does not count. They sit in the front passenger seat and are treated as responsible for the vehicle.
A certified instructor always satisfies this requirement
A friend with a recently issued licence does not
The supervisor must be sober and capable of taking control
Practising with a friend sounds cheaper until something goes wrong. Insurance on a private car will usually not cover a learner driver, and the supervisor carries real liability.
주행연습
The practice sign Korean law requires
It is not optional
A vehicle driven by a learner must display a 주행연습 practice sign so that other drivers know what they are following. Driving without it is an offence in its own right, separate from anything else you might do wrong.
How to display it
Clearly visible from behind the vehicle
Secure enough not to fall off in traffic
Removed once you hold a full licence
Academy training cars carry it already, so this only becomes your responsibility if you practise in a private vehicle.
Consequences
Penalties for misusing a Korean learner's permit
The permit itself is at risk
Breaching the conditions — driving alone, no practice sign, an unqualified supervisor, driving for payment — can result in the permit being cancelled. Because a cancelled permit cannot simply be reissued, you lose the written test and the skills test along with it and start the whole sequence again.
Serious offences carry the ordinary consequences on top: driving over the alcohol limit or leaving the scene of an accident is treated as it would be for any driver, permit or not.
Next stage
From learner's permit to a full Korean licence
1
Six hours of on-road training
With a certified instructor in real traffic on the designated examination routes.
6 hoursEnglish
2
The road driving test
Conducted by the academy, Monday to Saturday between 09:00 and 16:00. Pass mark 70 out of 100.
Pass 70/100
3
Licence issued
About ten days including weekends, and the learner's permit has served its purpose.
The one-year validity is fixed. There is no renewal, no grace period and no mechanism to add time because you were busy or abroad.
What starting again means
Written test again, course training and skills test again, then a new learner's permit. The safety education certificate and both test passes are gone.
If you are more than nine months into your permit and have not yet passed the road test, treat it as urgent. Book the training hours now rather than in the last fortnight, when the test slots you need may not be available.
Why SDA
Why foreign learners choose our Korean driving school
Certified instructors, in English
Supervision requirements are satisfied automatically, and the practice sign is already on the car.
80%+ pass rate
Consistently higher than candidates who prepare alone without an academy.
~10 days end to end
Fast enough that the one-year permit clock never becomes a problem.
FAQ
Korean learner's permit — frequently asked questions
How do I get a learner's permit in Korea?
You do not apply for it separately. It is issued once you complete the three-hour road safety education, pass the written test and pass the skills course test. At that point you may begin on-road practice.
How long is a Korean learner's permit valid?
One year from issue. The road driving test must be passed within that period. There is no renewal, no grace period and no way to add time, even if you were abroad.
Can I drive alone on a Korean learner's permit?
No. A qualified supervisor holding a full licence of the appropriate type, held long enough to qualify, must be in the front passenger seat and able to take control. A certified instructor always satisfies this requirement.
Do I need a special sign on the car as a learner in Korea?
Yes. A 주행연습 practice sign must be displayed and clearly visible from behind. Driving without it is an offence in its own right. Academy training cars carry it already.
What happens if my Korean learner's permit expires?
It cannot be extended. You lose the written test pass and the skills test pass along with it and start the whole sequence again from the beginning, including the safety education.
What happens if I break the conditions of a Korean learner's permit?
Driving alone, without the practice sign, with an unqualified supervisor or for payment can result in the permit being cancelled, which sends you back to the written test. Serious offences such as drink driving carry their ordinary consequences on top.
Can I practise with a friend instead of an instructor in Korea?
Only if they meet the supervision requirement, and even then it is risky. Insurance on a private car will usually not cover a learner driver, and the supervisor carries real liability if something goes wrong.
Can I drive on an expressway with a Korean learner's permit?
Expressways and comparable high-speed roads are not appropriate for learner practice. Practice is intended for ordinary roads, particularly the designated examination routes. Ask your instructor before driving any road you are unsure about.
Get started
One message and your Korean licence route is clear
If your permit clock is running, tell us the issue date. We will tell you honestly whether the remaining time is comfortable or whether you need to book training this week.
