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Driving — South Korea

What travelers need to know about driving in South Korea. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.

Short answer

Driving in South Korea: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.

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RESTRICTED

All drivers need an International Driving Permit (or a Korean license), and a blood-alcohol level of 0.03% or higher is legally intoxicated — police run DUI checkpoints and refusing a breathalyzer cancels your license.

DUI at 0.03% BAC; license loss for refusing a test

§ U.S. Department of State — South Korea

Verified Jul 3, 2026

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LawLert is an independent app and is not affiliated with any government. It summarizes laws from official government and U.S. State Department sources for general information only. This is not legal advice, and laws change. Always confirm with official sources and local authorities before you travel.