Four shapes, one logic. Learn the system and you can read a Korean sign you have never seen before — which is exactly what the written test is checking.
Every sign in this guide appears on our on-road training routes
Sign groups
4
School zone
30 km/h
Urban limit
50 km/h
Quiz
8 signs, free
How to read Korean road signs at a glance
Korean road signs use four groups you can identify by shape and colour. A yellow triangle with a red border warns of a hazard ahead. A red circle or red disc prohibits something. A blue circle tells you what you must do. A blue or green rectangle gives guidance and directions. Road markings follow their own logic: yellow separates opposing traffic, white separates lanes travelling the same way, blue marks bus-only lanes and red asphalt marks a 30 km/h school zone.
Learn Korean signs on the road with an instructor
Six hours of on-road training in English, on the same routes the examiner uses.
The system
How Korean road signs are organised
Learn the four shapes and you can read a sign you have never seen before. That is worth more than memorising pictures.
Yellow triangle — warning
A hazard is ahead. The sign tells you what, but never what to do about it.
Red circle — prohibition
Something is forbidden. A red diagonal across the symbol makes it explicit.
Blue circle — mandatory
You must do this. Straight ahead only, minimum speed, bicycles only.
Blue rectangle — guidance
Information and directions. Parking, expressway entry, one-way streets.
White plate below — conditions
Hours, vehicle types or distances that limit when the main sign applies.
Hangul plus English
Major routes carry both. Smaller streets are Korean only, so the shapes matter.
주의표지
Korean warning signs
Yellow triangle with a red border. It tells you a hazard is coming and expects you to decide the response.
Crossroads ahead십자형 교차로
A junction is coming. Slow down and check both side roads before entering.
Right curve우로 굽은 도로
The road bends right. Reduce speed before the bend, not inside it.
Steep downhill내리막 경사
A steep descent follows. Use a lower gear rather than riding the brakes.
Slippery road미끄러운 도로
The surface loses grip when wet or icy. Brake earlier and avoid sharp steering.
Children nearby어린이 보호
Children may enter the road. This marks school zones and play areas.
Falling rocks낙석도로
Rocks may fall onto the carriageway. Common on mountain routes.
Merging traffic합류도로
Another road joins yours. Traffic will merge in from the side.
Road narrows도로폭이 좁아짐
The carriageway narrows ahead. Adjust position early and do not overtake.
규제표지
Korean prohibition signs
A red ring or a red disc. These carry fines and licence points, so they are the ones worth knowing cold.
No entry진입금지
You may not enter this road at all. Frequently marks a one-way street from the wrong end.
Speed limit 50최고속도 제한
The maximum permitted speed in km/h. 50 is the standard urban limit in Korea.
No overtaking앞지르기 금지
Passing another vehicle is prohibited along this stretch.
No U-turn유턴금지
U-turns are not allowed here. In Korea a U-turn is only legal where a sign permits it.
No stopping or parking주정차금지
You may neither park nor stop here, even briefly. One diagonal means parking only.
Height limit차높이 제한
Vehicles taller than the figure shown may not pass. Check tunnels and underpasses.
Weight limit차중량 제한
Total vehicle weight above the figure shown is prohibited, typically on older bridges.
No pedestrians보행자 통행금지
Pedestrians may not use this road. Common on expressway approaches.
지시표지
Korean mandatory and instruction signs
Blue means you must. Drivers coming from countries where blue means information get caught by this.
Straight ahead only직진
You must continue straight. Turning is not permitted from this lane.
Right turn only우회전
You must turn right from this lane.
Roundabout회전교차로
Circulate in the direction shown and give way to traffic already in the circle.
Pedestrian crossing횡단보도
A marked crossing. Stop for anyone crossing or clearly waiting to cross.
Bicycles only자전거 전용
This lane or path is reserved for bicycles.
Minimum speed최저속도 제한
You must travel at least this speed. Korean expressways set a 50 km/h minimum.
안내표지
Korean guidance and direction signs
Blue and green rectangles carrying route, facility and lane information.
Bus-only lane전용차로
Reserved for buses during the hours posted below the sign. Camera enforced.
Parking permitted주차장
Parking is allowed here, usually with conditions posted on a supplementary plate.
One-way road일방통행
Traffic flows in one direction only, in the direction of the arrow.
Expressway고속도로
Marks the start of an expressway. Minimum 50 km/h and no pedestrians, bicycles or mopeds.
노면표시
Korean road markings and lane colours
Yellow separates opposing traffic. White separates lanes going the same way. Blue means buses. Red means a school zone.
Solid yellow centre lineSeparates opposing traffic. Do not cross it, and do not overtake across it.
Double yellow centre lineAbsolute separation. Crossing is prohibited from either direction.
White dashed lane lineDivides lanes running the same way. You may change lanes when it is safe.
Blue bus-only laneReserved during posted hours. Entering it outside an allowed manoeuvre is fined.
Pedestrian crossingStop for anyone crossing or waiting. No stopping or parking within 10 m of it.
Red school zone surfaceRed-coloured asphalt marks a school zone. The limit is 30 km/h, camera enforced.
어린이보호구역
Korean school zone and child protection signs
Why these matter more than the rest
Korean school zones run a 30 km/h limit, are marked with red road surface, and are monitored by dedicated cameras. Penalties for offences involving a child inside a zone are far heavier than an ordinary traffic fine and can carry criminal liability.
How to spot one in time
Red or yellow asphalt across the carriageway
Yellow guardrails and yellow crossing markings
Repeated 30 painted on the road
Camera housings mounted low, close to the crossing
전용차로
Korean bus-only lane signs and hours
Read the plate, not just the lane
A blue lane on its own tells you nothing about when the restriction applies. The supplementary plate under the sign carries the hours and the days, and they differ between ordinary city lanes and the median lanes on major corridors. Outside those hours the lane is normally open to all traffic.
Median bus lanes on wide arterial roads are the ones visitors get caught in. The lane is physically in the middle of the road, which is exactly where an unfamiliar driver would expect the fast lane to be.
주정차
Korean parking and stopping restriction signs
One diagonal or two
A blue disc with a red ring and one diagonal prohibits parking. Two diagonals prohibit stopping as well, so you may not even pause to drop someone off.
Distances that apply without any sign
Within 5 m of a fire hydrant
Within 5 m of an intersection edge
Within 10 m of a bus stop
On or within 10 m of a crossing
속도
Korean speed limit signs and camera warnings
30School zoneskm/h, camera enforced
50Urban general roadskm/h, Safety Speed 5030
100Typical expresswaykm/h, minimum 50
A white disc with a red ring is a maximum. A blue disc with the same number is a minimum. Average-speed enforcement zones are signed at both ends and calculate your speed between the two cameras, so slowing only at the gantry does not work.
Test yourself
Korean road signs in the written test — mini quiz
Eight signs, drawn the way they appear on the exam. Sign questions are the cheapest marks on the paper.
Six hours of on-road training on the examination routes, with every sign explained in English as you meet it.
80%+ pass rate
Consistently higher than candidates who prepare alone without an academy.
~10 days to licence
Theory, skills course and road test, all supported in English.
FAQ
Korean road signs — frequently asked questions
Are Korean road signs written in English?
Major roads, expressways and tourist routes carry both Hangul and English. Smaller city streets and residential areas are frequently Korean only, which is why recognising the shape and colour of a sign matters more than reading the text.
What do the colours of Korean road signs mean?
A yellow triangle with a red border warns of a hazard. A red circle or disc prohibits something. A blue circle is mandatory and tells you what you must do. A blue or green rectangle carries guidance, directions and facility information.
What does the red road surface mean in Korea?
Red-coloured asphalt marks a school zone. The speed limit inside is 30 km/h, it is enforced by dedicated cameras, and penalties for offences involving children are much heavier than ordinary traffic fines.
What does a blue lane mean on a Korean road?
Blue lane markings indicate a bus-only lane. The restriction applies during the hours shown on the plate beneath the sign, and cameras enforce it. Outside those hours the lane is normally open to all traffic.
What is the difference between one and two diagonals on a Korean parking sign?
A blue disc with a red ring and one diagonal prohibits parking. Two diagonals prohibit stopping as well, so you may not even pause briefly to let a passenger out.
Where may I not park in Korea even without a sign?
Within 5 m of a fire hydrant, within 5 m of an intersection edge, within 10 m of a bus stop, and on or within 10 m of a pedestrian crossing. These distances apply regardless of whether a sign is present.
How many road sign questions are on the Korean driving test?
Signs and markings make up a substantial share of the 40-question written test. They are the most predictable marks on the paper, which is why learning the four-group system first is the fastest way to raise your score.
Get started
One message and your Korean licence route is clear
Whether you are learning signs for the written test or want an instructor beside you on real Korean roads, tell us where you are starting from and we will map out the shortest path.
