Class 1 standard driver's licenses can now be renewed abroad; applications accepted at 188 overseas missions

[Financial News] Going forward, Korean nationals living abroad will also be able to renew their Class 1 standard driver's licenses or apply for international driving permits at local overseas diplomatic missions.
The National Police Agency said on the 1st that, in cooperation with the Overseas Koreans Agency and the Korea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD), it will launch services from the 2nd for renewing Class 1 standard driver's licenses and applying for international driving permits at 188 overseas diplomatic missions around the world.
Until now, overseas diplomatic missions have accepted applications only for renewing Class 2 standard driver's licenses and reissuing driver's licenses. They have handled requests related to driver's licenses since 2013, but applications for Class 1 standard licenses from abroad were restricted because renewals require aptitude tests, including vision tests.
To address this, the National Police Agency and other relevant agencies set up a system allowing licenses to be renewed by verifying records of domestic health checkups or physical examinations from within the two years before the application is received. Applicants will apply at an overseas diplomatic mission, go through the issuance process in Korea, and collect their renewed licenses locally. However, a license cannot be issued if records of a domestic health checkup or physical examination within the past two years cannot be verified.
Applications for international driving permits can also be submitted at overseas diplomatic missions. After going through the issuance process in Korea, the applications will be sent to the relevant mission, where applicants can collect their permits abroad.
The expansion of these services follows suggestions to address difficulties related to driver's licenses that were received during a comprehensive survey of public service requests conducted by the Overseas Koreans Agency in January and February this year. Relevant agencies pursued changes to the system to reduce the burden on overseas Koreans of having to travel to Korea for license renewals and other matters.
Korean nationals wishing to use the services can check the application requirements and required documents on the Overseas Koreans 365 Civil Service Portal before visiting the relevant overseas diplomatic mission. KoROAD will handle follow-up procedures, including checking the eligibility of applications and issuing licenses.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Kim Jong-chul said, "This service expansion is significant because we directly received suggestions about the difficulties faced by overseas Koreans and addressed them," adding, "We will continue to work with relevant agencies to improve convenience for the public."


[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter