South Korea's Korea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD) 2026 rules for Korean driver's license renewal (Type 2) and periodic medical check (Type 1) — cycle, fee, required documents, and online renewal. Includes a Korean renewal-due estimator.
| Category | Korean Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Korean License Re-issuance | 10,000 KRW | Korean e-Gov mobile 7,500 KRW |
| Korean Type 1 Medical Check | 12,500 KRW | Korean medical exam ~6,000 KRW extra |
| Korean Type 2 Renewal | 8,000 KRW | Korean eye test only (in most cases) |
| Korean International Driving Permit | 8,500 KRW | 1-year Korean validity, treaty countries only |
| Korean Mobile Driver's License (IC) | 15,000 KRW | Korean PASS app-linked IC card |
| Common | Korean ID, 2 passport-style photos taken within 6 months |
| Korean Type 1 (medical) | Korean medical result from a designated hospital (on-the-day), or Korean health screening within 6 months |
| Korean Type 2 (renewal) | Korean eye check (corrected ≥ 0.5 both eyes; ≥ 0.6 in the good eye if one-eyed) |
| Korean foreigner applicants | Korean alien registration card + medical result (separate Korean process for foreign-license exchange) |
| Category | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Korean Type 1 (general) | 10 yrs | Post 2011-12-09 Korean issue / renewal |
| Korean Type 1 (65–74) | 5 yrs | Korean periodic medical mandatory |
| Korean Type 1 (75+) | 3 yrs | Korean 2-hour safety course required |
| Korean Type 2 (general) | 10 yrs | Korean eye test |
| Korean Type 2 (65–74) | 5 yrs | Korean eye test mandatory |
| Korean Type 2 (75+) | 3 yrs | Korean 2-hour safety course required |
| Within 1 Korean year of expiry | Korean 20,000 KRW fine |
| Over 1 Korean year | Korean 30,000 KRW fine + Korean licence suspension |
| After Korean suspension | Korean licence revoked — retake Korean written / skills / road tests |
| Korean 70+ dementia screen | Skipping Korean cognitive self-assessment = Korean safety-course violation |
Korean cycles and fees can change under Korean KoROAD notices — always confirm before visiting.
This page summarises Korean KoROAD, Korea National Police Agency, and Korea Government24 public information (as of April 2026) for reference only. Korean cycles, fees, documents, and penalties can change under Korean law and Korean KoROAD notices, and individual Korean conditions (Korean age, illness, Korean licence type) can vary. The estimator has no legal effect — always confirm on Korea KoROAD (safedriving.or.kr) or at a Korean police office before renewing or taking the Korean medical check. Applies to Korean driver's licenses issued in the Republic of Korea.
Under South Korea's Road Traffic Act, each Korean driver must renew (Type 2) or undergo a periodic medical check (Type 1) on a fixed Korean cycle. Licences issued or renewed on or after 2011-12-09 follow a Korean 10-year cycle (general), 5-year cycle (age 65–74), or 3-year cycle (75+) — Korean age 75+ also requires a 2-hour Korean safety course and cognitive self-assessment. From 2026, the Korean renewal window spreads over 6 months before / after the Korean birthday of the expiry year (1 Korean year total). Korean Type 1 periodic medical requires a designated-hospital check (~6,000 KRW). Korean Type 2 renewal typically uses an eye test (≥ 0.5 corrected both eyes). Korean fees: Type 2 renewal 8,000 KRW, Type 1 medical 12,500 KRW, Korean licence re-issuance 10,000 KRW (mobile 7,500 KRW), Korean International Driving Permit 8,500 KRW. Korean delays incur a 20–30k KRW fine and longer delays can suspend or revoke the Korean licence.
Previously Korean renewal had to happen within Jan–Dec of the expiry year. From 2026, Korean renewal spreads 6 months ±Korean birthday of the expiry year (1 Korean year total). Korean 10/5/3-year cycles themselves stay the same.
Korean Type 1 holders undergo Korean periodic medical (vision, hearing, motor function) and Korean Type 2 holders renew with an eye test. Age 65+ is a 5-year Korean cycle for both, 75+ is 3-year + 2-hour Korean safety course.
Korean Type 2 and some Korean Type 1 (medical on file) renewals can be done via Korea Government24 or Korea KoROAD. Upload a photo taken within 6 months; mobile ID + Korean fee payment work.
Book via Korea KoROAD at Korean nationwide driver centres or designated training bodies. 2 Korean hours with one-time cognitive self-assessment. The Korean certificate is required for renewal.
Korean ≤ 1 year late = 20,000 KRW fine; Korean > 1 year late = 30,000 KRW + Korean licence suspension. Korean driving during suspension is Korean unlicensed driving (criminal). Renew Korean quickly.
Korean foreign licences must be 'exchanged' to a Korean licence via a separate Korean process. Approx. 140 Korean reciprocal-treaty countries qualify for partial exemptions on Korean written/skills/road tests — see the Korea KoROAD foreign-licence-exchange page.
South Korea's Korean driver's licence must be renewed or undergo a periodic Korean medical check under the Korean Road Traffic Act. Korean licences issued or renewed after 2011-12-09 follow a 10-year Korean cycle (general), 5-year Korean cycle (age 65–74), or 3-year Korean cycle (age 75+, with a 2-hour Korean safety course + cognitive self-assessment). From 2026 the Korean renewal window spreads 6 months ±Korean birthday of the expiry year (1 Korean year). Korean Type 1 periodic medical requires a designated-hospital check (~6,000 KRW Korean fee). Korean Type 2 renewal typically uses a Korean eye test (corrected ≥ 0.5 both eyes). Korean fees: 8,000 KRW (Type 2 renewal), 12,500 KRW (Type 1 medical), 10,000 KRW (Korean re-issuance), 7,500 KRW (Korean mobile), 8,500 KRW (Korean IDP), 15,000 KRW (Korean IC mobile). Korean applicants can book via Korea KoROAD (safedriving.or.kr) or Korea Government24 and finish Korean online for some Korean types. Korean delays cost 20–30k KRW fines and can suspend or revoke the Korean licence — start Korean procedures 1 year before expiry to avoid Korean penalties.