By Jung Min-ho
Cheaper, quicker and easier ― getting a driver’s license in Korea appears to be the latest fad for Chinese tourists.
For many Chinese people learning to drive, it is an easy choice to get a license here. While it takes only a week to receive your license at registered driving schools in Korea, the same process can take up to a year in their home country.
In addition, the whole process of getting a Korean license costs about half the 7,000 yuan ($1,100) it costs in China.
On Jeju Island, where foreigners can stay for up to 30 days without a visa, 687 Chinese nationals became holders of a Korean driving license from January to May, officials said. The number is expected to reach 2,000 by the end of the year.
In 2011, the Korean government eased rules for foreigners applying for driving licenses, cutting the hours of training required to just 13, including six hours of driving time.
A total of 10 foreign language services, including Chinese, have also become available.
This has fuelled a boom among Chinese people because licenses obtained in Korea are also valid in most provinces in China.
The market is already reacting to the trend. On Jeju Island, it is now common to see Chinese applicants at driving schools.
An increasing number of driving schools try to attract Chinese customers, who want to get a driver’s license during their trip, providing Chinese language services on their websites. Some offer a special package that includes a shopping and sightseeing tour, with an interpreter and tour guide available.
Gao Yiai, a housewife from Shandong, an eastern Chinese province, was one of many Chinese visitors who took advantage of the trend in Korea.
“The sole reason for coming to Korea was to get my driver’s license. My friend told me it’s easy to get a Korean one. That friend recommended this school. I just passed the test. I’m so happy.” Gao told CCTV, China’s main state-run television station.
The Chinese government worries that the drivers, who obtained the “quicker and easier” Korean license, might undermine safety on Chinese roads. The Chinese government reportedly requested the National Police Association (NPA) to tighten the license requirements for Chinese people in December. But the Korean agency has not yet complied with the requests.
According to CCTV, about 70,000 Chinese nationals obtained Korean driving licenses from 2012 to 2014.