If you only plan to drive a car, a Class II driver’s license for ordinary motor vehicles (2종 보통, “Class II Ordinary”) is enough. You need a Class I driver’s license for ordinary motor vehicles (1종 보통, “Class I Ordinary”) to drive buses (vans) with 11–15 seats or trucks carrying more than 4 tonnes, and it’s worth having if you’re aiming for delivery, freight or construction work. You can get either one from age 18. The written test pass mark is 70 for Class I and 60 for Class II, and the fee is KRW 10,000 for both (checked October 2026). You can also get Class II first and upgrade to Class I later.
Types of Korean driver’s licenses
Article 80 of the Road Traffic Act sorts licenses into three groups.
| Group | License | Main vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Large | Buses, heavy trucks, dump trucks and other construction machinery |
| Ordinary | Passenger cars, buses up to 15 seats, trucks under 12 t load | |
| Small | Three-wheeled cars and trucks | |
| Special (large tractor, small tractor, wrecker) | Tractor-trailers, tow trucks | |
| Class II | Ordinary | Passenger cars, buses up to 10 seats, trucks up to 4 t load |
| Small | Two-wheeled vehicles (motorbikes over 125 cc) | |
| Motorcycle (원동기장치자전거) | Motorbikes/scooters up to 125 cc, e-scooters | |
| Student license | Class I Ordinary / Class II Ordinary | For road practice (valid 1 year) |
Class I Large and special licenses require age 19+ and at least one year of driving experience (Article 82). The motorcycle (원동기장치자전거) license is available from age 16.
Class I Ordinary vs Class II Ordinary
Based on Annex 18 of the Enforcement Rules.
| Item | Class I Ordinary | Class II Ordinary |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | Yes | Yes |
| Buses (vans/minibuses) | Up to 15 seats | Up to 10 seats |
| Trucks | Load under 12 t | Load 4 t or less |
| Special vehicles (not tractor/wrecker) | Gross weight under 10 t | Gross weight 3.5 t or less |
| Forklifts on public roads (under 3 t) | Yes | No |
| Motorcycles (원동기장치자전거, 125 cc or less) | Yes | Yes |
| Written test pass mark | 70+ | 60+ |
| Vision (corrective lenses OK) | Both eyes 0.8+, each eye 0.5+ | Both eyes 0.5+ |
| Test vehicle | Van or truck of a set minimum size | Passenger car |
Both classes draw 40 questions from the same public question bank, with 40 minutes to answer them. The road test pass mark is 70 for both (Enforcement Decree Article 50).
Buses (vans) with 11 or more seats, such as 12-seaters, cannot be driven on a Class II Ordinary license. Check the seating capacity on the registration certificate.
Automatic-only (A) condition
If you pass in an automatic car, your license carries the A (automatic transmission) condition, and you can’t drive a manual. Annex 20 of the Enforcement Rules lets this condition apply to both Class I and Class II Ordinary, so a Class I automatic license is possible. Test centers don’t all have the same vehicles, though, so ask yours before you apply. To remove the condition later, you must retake the skills test in a manual vehicle (Enforcement Rules Article 54(6)).
Upgrading from Class II to Class I Ordinary
- Take the test: If you hold Class II Ordinary, you skip the written and skills tests. You only take the aptitude (medical) test and the road test.
- 7-year clean record: If you’ve held Class II Ordinary with no license revocation and no traffic accidents in the 7 years before you apply, the aptitude test alone gets you Class I Ordinary. You must also prove you actually drove during that time, for example with a car insurance certificate (Enforcement Decree Annex 3, item 13).
Either way, you need to meet the Class I vision standard. If your Class II license is automatic-only, ask the test center how the condition carries over.
When work requires Class I
- Trucks over 4 t and under 12 t load: Class I Ordinary or higher. Trucks with a 4 t load or less (such as 1 t and 2.5 t trucks) can be driven on Class II.
- Buses (vans) with 11–15 seats (academy or company shuttles): Class I Ordinary or higher.
- Trucks carrying hazardous materials: Class I Ordinary up to 3 t (or 3,000 L). Above that, Class I Large (Annex 18, notes).
- Forklifts under 3 t on public roads: Class I Ordinary or higher.
- Dump trucks, concrete mixers and buses with 16+ seats: Class I Large.
Employers may ask for Class I Ordinary even when the law allows Class II, so check the job posting.
Exchanging a foreign license
Most foreign licenses are exchanged for a Class II Ordinary Korean license. See the foreign license exchange guide for details and exceptions.
Motorcycles (원동기장치자전거) and e-scooters (personal mobility devices)
E-scooters and similar personal mobility devices legally count as motorcycles (원동기장치자전거). To ride one you need a motorcycle driver’s license or higher (Class II Small, Class II Ordinary, Class I Ordinary, etc.) under Road Traffic Act Article 2(19-2) and Article 43. Riding without one brings a KRW 100,000 fine (Enforcement Decree Annex 8), and you must wear a helmet. The motorcycle driver’s license is open from age 16. Its pass mark is 60 and the test fee is KRW 8,000.
FAQ
I only drive cars. Should I still get Class I?
Not necessarily. Class II Ordinary covers cars and SUVs, and its pass mark is lower (60). You can upgrade later if you need to.
Is the Class I written test harder?
The questions come from the same bank. Only the pass mark is higher (70). Try our practice test to see whether you score 70+ consistently.
Can I apply for both student licenses at once?
No. You can apply for only one type of student license (Enforcement Rules Article 57(3)).
Can I ride a motorbike over 125 cc with Class I Ordinary?
No. It covers motorcycles (원동기장치자전거) of 125 cc or less only. Bigger two-wheeled vehicles need a separate Class II Small license.
Do I need Class I to drive a 1-tonne delivery truck?
Legally, no. Its load is under 4 t, so Class II Ordinary is enough. Check the employer’s requirements separately.