South Korean citizens holding a driver’s license issued in their home country can now acquire an Ohio driver’s license without undergoing further testing. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean citizens holding a driver’s license issued in their home country can now acquire an Ohio driver’s license without undergoing further testing, as established by a recent agreement between the two regions.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced that it had entered into a ‘Mutual Recognition Agreement for Driver’s Licenses with the State of Ohio’ on March 13. The agreement is set to take effect on March 20, seven days after its signing.
Starting from the effective date, South Koreans who have legal residency status in the U.S. and hold a valid Korean driver’s license (including 1st class large, special, and ordinary licenses, and 2nd class ordinary licenses) will be eligible to exchange their licenses for an Ohio Class D driver’s license without any additional tests.
Similarly, foreign nationals legally residing in Korea and holding an Ohio driver’s license (Class A, B, C, or D) can acquire a Korean 2nd class ordinary license after only a physical examination, bypassing the written and practical driving tests.
Class D licenses in Ohio are equivalent to Korea’s 2nd class ordinary licenses, while Ohio’s Class A, B, and C licenses correspond to Korea’s 1st class ordinary licenses.
The KNPA has been working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since last year to negotiate and request the mutual recognition agreement with Ohio, aiming to support Korean nationals abroad.
With 16,670 Korean expatriates living in Ohio, this agreement marks the 25th of its kind between South Korea and a U.S. state.
Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the KNPA, expressed optimism about the agreement, stating, “We anticipate that it will not only improve the convenience of our corporate representatives in Ohio but also contribute to fostering friendly relations between the two countries.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
