1949 IDP required alongside national licence
RequiredSouth Korea recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP: UK and most EU drivers must carry the 1949 IDP plus their original licence and passport. The 1968 Vienna IDP is NOT accepted.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in South Korea
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into South Korea: 10 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
10
Required
2
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for South Korea
10 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside national licence
South Korea recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP: UK and most EU drivers must carry the 1949 IDP plus their original licence and passport. The 1968 Vienna IDP is NOT accepted.
Passport must be carried while driving
Police can request passport and IDP at any roadside check; a photocopy is not sufficient.
Speed limits 100/80/50 km/h
Motorway (expressway) 100 km/h (some sections 110 or 120), rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, and 30 km/h in residential and school zones.
BAC limit 0.03 g/L: effectively zero tolerance
Blood alcohol limit is 0.03 g/100 mL (0.3 g/L), one of the world's strictest; licence suspension starts at 0.03 and criminal charges at 0.08.
No right turn on red unless arrow shown
Right turn on red was abolished at signed junctions in 2023: only turn right on red where a green arrow or sign explicitly permits it, and always yield to pedestrians.
School zone cameras enforce 30 km/h strictly
Under the 'Min-sik Law', fines and prison sentences in marked school zones (08:00–20:00) are severe; speed cameras are frequent and unforgiving.
Expressway tolls: Hi-Pass or ticket-and-pay
Most expressways are tolled; rentals usually include a Hi-Pass transponder for free-flow lanes, otherwise take a ticket on entry and pay cash or card on exit. Roughly KRW 5,000–8,000 (EUR 3.50–5.50) per 100 km.
Seoul Green Transport Zone restricts old diesels
Seoul's Green Transport Zone (within the old city walls) bans Grade-5 emission vehicles 06:00–21:00; rental cars are compliant but check before driving older private imports: fine KRW 250,000 (~EUR 170).
Warning triangle and reflective signal required
Vehicles must carry a warning triangle (and a flare or reflective signal for night-time breakdowns on expressways): rentals are usually equipped, verify before departure.
Seatbelts compulsory in all seats
All occupants must wear seatbelts on all roads (extended nationwide in 2018); children under 6 require an approved child seat.
Documents
Passport must be carried while driving
RequiredPolice can request passport and IDP at any roadside check; a photocopy is not sufficient.
Rental insurance with CDW strongly advised
RecommendedTake the rental company's collision damage waiver and third-party top-up: standard UK/EU policies and green cards have no validity in Korea.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
Good to knowTraffic drives on the right-hand side of the road, overtaking on the left: a switch for UK and Irish drivers.
Speed limits 100/80/50 km/h
RequiredMotorway (expressway) 100 km/h (some sections 110 or 120), rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, and 30 km/h in residential and school zones.
BAC limit 0.03 g/L: effectively zero tolerance
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.03 g/100 mL (0.3 g/L), one of the world's strictest; licence suspension starts at 0.03 and criminal charges at 0.08.
No right turn on red unless arrow shown
RequiredRight turn on red was abolished at signed junctions in 2023: only turn right on red where a green arrow or sign explicitly permits it, and always yield to pedestrians.
School zone cameras enforce 30 km/h strictly
RequiredUnder the 'Min-sik Law', fines and prison sentences in marked school zones (08:00–20:00) are severe; speed cameras are frequent and unforgiving.
Seatbelts compulsory in all seats
RequiredAll occupants must wear seatbelts on all roads (extended nationwide in 2018); children under 6 require an approved child seat.
Emergency number 112 (police) / 119 (ambulance/fire)
Good to knowDial 112 for police and 119 for medical or fire emergencies; operators offer English assistance. Korea Expressway Corporation roadside help is 1588-2504.
Tolls
Expressway tolls: Hi-Pass or ticket-and-pay
RequiredMost expressways are tolled; rentals usually include a Hi-Pass transponder for free-flow lanes, otherwise take a ticket on entry and pay cash or card on exit. Roughly KRW 5,000–8,000 (EUR 3.50–5.50) per 100 km.
Vignette
No vignette system
Good to knowKorea has no motorway sticker or e-vignette: all expressway charging is via the Hi-Pass / toll-plaza system above.
Emissions / low-emission zones
Seoul Green Transport Zone restricts old diesels
RequiredSeoul's Green Transport Zone (within the old city walls) bans Grade-5 emission vehicles 06:00–21:00; rental cars are compliant but check before driving older private imports: fine KRW 250,000 (~EUR 170).
Required equipment
Warning triangle and reflective signal required
RequiredVehicles must carry a warning triangle (and a flare or reflective signal for night-time breakdowns on expressways): rentals are usually equipped, verify before departure.
Winter tyres or chains Dec–Mar in mountains
RecommendedWinter tyres are not mandated nationally but snow chains are commonly required on signed mountain passes (Gangwon, Taebaek) from December to March; police can turn back unequipped vehicles.
Money
Currency KRW; fuel ~EUR 1.10/L petrol
Good to knowPetrol (gasoline) runs around KRW 1,700/L (~EUR 1.15) and diesel KRW 1,550/L (~EUR 1.05); cards accepted at virtually all stations, tipping is not customary.
Cash declaration USD 10,000 at border
Good to knowAmounts over USD 10,000 (or equivalent) in cash or bearer instruments must be declared to Korean Customs on arrival.
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Speed limits 100/80/50 km/h
RequiredMotorway (expressway) 100 km/h (some sections 110 or 120), rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, and 30 km/h in residential and school zones.
BAC limit 0.03 g/L: effectively zero tolerance
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.03 g/100 mL (0.3 g/L), one of the world's strictest; licence suspension starts at 0.03 and criminal charges at 0.08.
No right turn on red unless arrow shown
RequiredRight turn on red was abolished at signed junctions in 2023: only turn right on red where a green arrow or sign explicitly permits it, and always yield to pedestrians.
School zone cameras enforce 30 km/h strictly
RequiredUnder the 'Min-sik Law', fines and prison sentences in marked school zones (08:00–20:00) are severe; speed cameras are frequent and unforgiving.
Seoul Green Transport Zone restricts old diesels
RequiredSeoul's Green Transport Zone (within the old city walls) bans Grade-5 emission vehicles 06:00–21:00; rental cars are compliant but check before driving older private imports: fine KRW 250,000 (~EUR 170).
Seatbelts compulsory in all seats
RequiredAll occupants must wear seatbelts on all roads (extended nationwide in 2018); children under 6 require an approved child seat.