This year, approximately 4.9 million people are eligible for driver's license renewal, the highest number in the past 15 years. Authorities recommended renewing as soon as possible, as those renewing at the end of the year may have to wait over 4 hours.
According to the Korean National Police Agency, there are 4,871,960 people eligible for driver's license renewal this year. This figure is an increase of about 1 million compared to last year's 3,895,893.
Among them, 1,819,839 drivers completed their renewals in the first half of this year, which constitutes about 37% of the total eligible.
The Korean National Police Agency stated that if renewals are postponed until the end of the year, waiting times could surge. According to the agency, in December last year, as the deadline approached, an average of 2,000 people waited over 4 hours at the driver's license exam centers each hour.
In contrast, the average waiting time for renewal services until June this year was about 20 minutes, saving over 10 times the time compared to the end of the year. The Korean National Police Agency remarked, "With more candidates this year than last year, waiting times could be longer than last year at the end of the year," urging, "Please renew now."
Driver's license renewal can be requested at 27 driver's license exam centers and police stations nationwide, and it can be done within 20 minutes if using the Korea Road Traffic Authority (KOROAD) safe driving integrated civil service website (www.safedriving.or.kr). Estimated waiting times can be checked for each exam center.
If the driver's license renewal period is exceeded, fines will be imposed, and the 'Driver's License Authenticity Verification Service' being implemented in the financial sector cannot be utilized.