Korea to include electric vehicles in driver's license test

A driver's license applicant passes by a test course in Seoul, Sept. 30. Yonhap

Korea will start to include electric vehicles in the nation's driver’s license test next year at the earliest, the National Police Agency said Wednesday.

The initiative aims to address the increasing popularity of eco-friendly electric vehicles. At present, only internal combustion engine vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel are used at test sites.

The agency said a partial amendment to the enforcement regulations of the Road Traffic Act, which allows electric vehicles to be placed at driver's license test sites, was deliberated and decided at a National Police Commission meeting, Monday.

The amendment will be implemented at the end of the year after a preliminary notice of legislation and a review by the Ministry of Government Legislation.

In particular, most of the 1-ton trucks used in the level 1 license test use discontinued diesel models, which were difficult to replace.

Once the amendment is implemented, applicants for the practical test will be randomly assigned electric vehicles or internal combustion vehicles for the test.

Reflecting the characteristics of electric vehicles, the technical test scoring standards will also be adjusted.

"It will have the effect of increasing the adaptability of drivers in line with the spread of electric vehicles while meeting the obligations of public institutions to purchase eco-friendly cars,” an official from the National Police Agency said. "The specific timing and size of the deployment will be established by the Road Traffic Authority."

The revision of the enforcement regulations also includes allowing large trucks to be used for level 1 tests for large vehicles and vans equivalent to 1-ton trucks.

Currently, testing is only allowed with buses and 1-ton trucks. However, due to the growing size of vehicles on the market, concerns grew that few of the test vehicles meet the existing standards, making it difficult to replace them even after years of service.