Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in South Korea

Everything a visitor needs before driving in South Korea — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.03

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

100

Motorway Limit

km/h

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

80 km/h

Motorway / Highway

100 km/h

Note: Some motorways 110-120.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in South Korea

General limit: 0.03 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in South Korea can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

South Korea on the Live Map

South Korea has a WHO-estimated 5.9 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for South Korea.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save South Korea's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

North Korea Japan Taiwan China Mongolia Philippines

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does South Korea drive on?

South Korea drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in South Korea?

The general limit is 0.03 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in South Korea?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in South Korea. Get one in your home country before you travel.

Is it safe to drive in South Korea?

By the numbers, South Korea has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 5.9 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is safer than the global average — it ranks 159 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.