What vehicles can I drive with a Level 1 Korean license?

With a Level 1 (1st Class Ordinary) license, you can drive passenger cars, vans/minibuses up to 15 seats, trucks under 12 tons, special vehicles under 10 tons, forklifts under 3 tons, and motorized bicycles 125cc and below.

What is the passing score for Level 1 license tests in Korea?

The passing scores are: Written Test 70/100, Skills/Course Test 80/100, and Road Driving Test 70/100.

What is the difference between Level 1 Manual and Automatic license?

Level 1 Manual allows you to drive both manual and automatic vehicles, while Level 1 Automatic limits you to automatic-transmission vehicles only. The Automatic option has been available to the general public since October 2024.

How much does a Level 1 Korean driver's license cost?

The total cost is approximately 937,000 KRW (VAT included), which includes the program package (780,000 KRW) and required additional fees (157,000 KRW).

Level 1 license

VEHICLE TYPES

What You Can Drive

Manual (Stick)

1종 보통 (수동)

Passenger cars (standard cars)
Vans / minibuses up to 15 seats(including driver)
Trucks under 12 tons payload
Special vehicles under 10 tons gross weight (excluding tow trucks & rescue vehicles)
Forklifts under 3 tons
Hazmat trucks up to 3 tons payload (requires additional certification)
Motorized bicycles ( 125cc and below)

Automatic

1종 보통 (자동)

Same as Manual, but limited to automatic-transmission vehicles only

Passenger cars (automatic only)
Vans / minibuses up to 15 seats
Trucks under 12 tons
And more... (automatic transmission only)

New! Available to general public since October 2024. Holders of Level 2 Automatic with 7 years of accident-free driving can upgrade without test.

TEST REQUIREMENTS

Passing Scores

Same requirements for both Manual and Automatic

Test	Passing Score
Written Test 학과	70 / 100
Skills - Driving Course 기능	80 / 100
Road Driving 도로주행	70 / 100

STEP BY STEP

How to Get Your License

Follow this fixed sequence to complete your Level 1 license

Road Safety Education

3 Hours Mandatory

Theory class conducted at the driving school (학원에서 이론수업 진행)

Written Test

Pass: 70/100

Monday – Friday

Conducted at Korea Road Traffic Authority (한국 도로교통공단에서 필기시험 운영)

Course (Technical) Lesson

4 Hours Closed course practice

Vehicle controls, parking, slope starts, and basic maneuvers on the academy's closed course.

Course (Technical) Test

Pass: 80/100

Fixed Test Schedule:

Tuesday 11:00 AM

Friday 11:00 AM

Saturday 2:00 PM

Test conducted at the academy (학원에서 직접 시험)

On-Road Driving Lesson

6 Hours Real traffic conditions

Practice driving in actual city traffic with a certified instructor on designated routes.

Road Test & License Issuance

Pass: 70/100

Test Schedule Mon – Sat, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

License Issuance ~10 days (including weekends)

Test conducted at the academy (학원에서 직접 시험)

CRITERIA

Pass & Fail Details

Pass Requirements

Written Test 70+ / 100

Skills (Course) Test 80+ / 100

Road Driving Test 70+ / 100

Immediate Fail

Seatbelt violation
Accident or curb contact
Skipping required tasks
Major rule violations
Refusing examiner control

PRICING

Total Cost Summary

Grand Total (Typical)

937,000 KRW

VAT Included

What's Included

Program Package (VAT included) 780,000 KRW

Includes all training hours (3h + 4h + 6h)

Required Additional Fees (Typical) 157,000 KRW

Health check-up 6,000

Written test fee 10,000

Course insurance 10,000

On-road insurance 7,000

Functional test fee 55,000

Learner's license (cash) 4,000

Road test fee 55,000

License issuance (cash) 10,000

* Course insurance deductible: up to 100,000 KRW may apply in case of accident

Note: Road safety education (3 hours) may be charged separately depending on your enrollment plan.

DOCUMENTS

Required Documents

For written test registration

Resident ID Card (ARC)

Alien Registration Card is required for all foreign applicants

2 Photos

Photo machine is available at the school for your convenience

POLICIES

Important Policies

Training Validity

Complete theory/education + course lesson + on-road lesson within 3 months from the start date

Expiration Rules

Course Technical Test: Must pass within 6 months from completion of theory/education
Road Test: Must pass within the learner's license validity (1 year)

Absence/Late Penalty

30,000 KRW per hour — waived if rescheduled 24 hours in advance

Advance Booking

All sessions must be booked at least 1 hour in advance

Refund Policy

Full refund before start; after start, refund is 1/2 of remaining time after deducting completed hours

Traffic Penalties

Traffic violations during lesson/test (signals, speeding, etc.) are borne by the learner

WHY CHOOSE US

Anyang Driving School Advantage

80%+

Pass Rate

Much higher than self-study

1,000+

Foreigners Licensed

Over the past 10 years

~10

Days to Complete

vs. months on your own

Our Recommendation

Getting your license through our academy is significantly faster and more successful than attempting the process on your own. Self-study candidates often take several additional months and face multiple failed attempts. With our English-speaking support, proven 80%+ pass rate, and 10+ years of experience helping over 1,000 foreigners, you'll be on the road in no time.

Ready to Get Started?

Our English-speaking team is ready to help you get your Level 1 license

Schedule a Consultation

Level 1 License