With public transport leaving a lot to be desired, driving remains the most con-venient way to get around Jeju Island. The Jeju Weekly here provides a guide to getting your license from scratch so you can have the freedom of Jeju's roads.

Please note: This guide is for people not having a home-country license, those not wanting to exchange their own license and for those who no longer have a valid international license. A guide to these will be published in Issue 98 and online.

Sites

Site 1: Driver’s License Examina-tion Office (Stages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)

1 San 211-4, Sogil-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, 064-710-9200

Directions: Exit the Pyeonghwa-ro 1135 at Sogil Gyocharo (intersection) just west of the horse racing track.

Buses: Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal -> Jungmun Gosok/Pyeonghwa-ro -> Driver’s License Examination Office (45 mins)

Site 2: Jeju Road Traffic Authority Office (Stages: 7, 8)

3220 Nohyeong-dong Jeju-si, Jeju-do, 064-710-9114

Directions: On Nohyeong-ro a few hundred meters west of Halla University Entrance (Halladae Ibgu).

Buses: Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal -> Jungmun Gosok/Pyeonghwa-ro -> Jeju Road Traffic Authority Office (25 mins)

License types

Level 1 (manual)

- regular -> car or bus below 15 people/ below 12t big truck

- large -> above regular

Level 2 (automatic/manual)

- small -> motorcycles above 125 CC

- regular -> vehicles carrying less than 10 people/below 4t truck

*All scoring is done on a minus scoring system starting at 100.

▲ Image courtesy KoROAD

1. Traffic safety education video

Documents: Application form, valid ID

Times: Weekdays: 10 a.m./2 p.m.; Saturdays: 9 a.m.

Length: 1 hour

This is a mandatory road-safety video with limited English subtitles.

2. Health check

Documents: Application form, valid ID

Just to the left of the main counter is the health test room. It takes no more than five minutes although you may have to wait.

Cost: 5,000 won

Notes: A simple sight, hearing and colour test.

3. Apply for Written Exam

Documents: Application form, three color passport photos and valid ID.

Cost: Level 1, 2 (regular) and Level 2 (small) 6,000 won

Motorized 4,000 won

4. Take written exam

Documents: Application form, valid ID

This 60-minute multiple-choice test can be sat between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The clarity of the English might lead to confusion. If you fail, you can retake this the next day.

Exam times

9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pass level

Level 1 : 70 points or higher

Level 2 : 60 points or higher

5. Apply for driving course test

Documents: Application form, valid ID

Processing fee

Level 1 (regular, large and special),2 (regular): 15,000 won

Motorized vehicle : 5,000 won

Level 2 (small) : 6,000 won

6. Take driving course test (15,000 won)

Documents: Application form, valid ID

Levels 1/2

Mon/Wed/Fri: 1/3/4:30 p.m.

Tues: 1/4:30 p.m.

Wed: 9/10 a.m./3/4:30 p.m.

Notes: Must be passed within one year of the written test.

If failed, you must wait three days to retake.

You will listen to a safety lecture and watch a 30-minute video with English subtitles before being tested on your navigation of a 50-meter section of the track.

Test areas: Operating a non-moving vehicle: turning on lights, turn signals, wipers, gears

Operation of a moving vehicle: 50-meter course and emergency stop

Scoring: Level 1 (large) and Level 1,2 (regular): 80 points or higher

Level 1 (special) and Level 2 (small), motorized vehicles: 90 points or higher

7. Temporary driving license issued

Documents: Application form, valid ID

Cost: 3,000 won

Your temporary license is valid for a year and you can now drive a car if accompanied by an experienced driver. To practise the exam routes you can register with a driving education center or you can practice with a friend. There are four routes of around 5 k.m. each.

▲ Course A (1). Image courtesy KoROAD

Course 1 - Korea Road Traffic Authority (depart) --> Wolsan Village Entrance (straight) --> Haean Interchange (straight) --> Musucheon Junction (U-turn) --> Haean Interchange (right) --> Haean Village Entrance (straight) --> Keunnaedo Interchange (U-turn) --> Haean Village Entrance (parallel parking, finish)

▲ Course B (2). Image courtesy KoROAD

Course 2 - Haean Village Entrance (parallel parking, depart) --> Wolsan Village Entrance (straight) --> Haean Interchange (right) --> Wolsan Inter-change (straight) --> Nonghyeop Gas Station (left) --> Sammunanwon (right) --> Jungheung A Entrance (right) --> Halla University Entrance (right) --> Korea Road Traffic Authority (finish)

▲ Course C (3). Image courtesy KoROAD

Course 3 - Korea Road Traffic Authority (depart) --> Wolsan Village Entrance (straight) --> Haean Interchange (left) --> Aejo-ro (straight) --> Nohyeong Interchange (U-turn) --> Haean Village Entrance (parallel parking, finish)

▲ Course D (4). Image courtesy KoROAD

Course 4 - Haean Village Entrance (parallel parking, depart) --> Wolsan Village Entrance (straight) --> Haean Interchange (straight) --> Nonghyeop Gas Station (straight) --> Halla Univer-sity Junction (left) --> Jungheung A Entrance (left) --> Sammunanwon (left) --> Nonghyeop Gas Station (right) --> Korea Road Traffic Authority (finish)

8. Apply for on-road exam

Documents: Application form, tempo-rary license, valid ID

Cost: 21,000 won

This can be done online at dl.koroad.or.kr or by telephone (only Korean). You must do so at least a day in advance.

9. Take on-road driving exam

Documents: Application form, tempo-rary license, valid ID

Times:

Levels 1/2

Weekdays: 9 a.m./1/3 p.m.

Notes: First watch a 30-minute video with English subtitles and essential test information. You will then drive one of four courses. If you drive 1 or 3, the other testee drives 2 or 4, and so on. Auto-mated English instructions are available.

Test areas: (31 items) driving attitude and behavior, expertise in operating different devices and functions of the vehicle, right turn, left turn, driving straight, lane change, parallel parking, etc.

Grading: 70 points or higher

10. Driver’s license issued

Documents: Application form, tempo-rary license, valid ID

Cost: 6,000 won

You must return to the Aewol center to collect your the license. You are now ready to brave Jeju’s roads! Good luck!