Officials hold a mobile ID issuance outreach event at Gimpo International Airport, Aug. 9, 2023. Korea Times file
Drivers from Korea living in the U.S. state of Montana will soon be able to exchange their Korean licenses for local ones without undergoing written or road tests under a new reciprocal agreement aimed at easing bureaucratic burdens.
The National Police Agency announced Monday that it had finalized the agreement with Montana officials Thursday, making it the 30th U.S. jurisdiction to waive testing requirements for Korean citizens. Under the terms of the deal, which takes effect May 1, Koreans residing in Montana for more than 90 days can obtain a Montana Class D license — the standard for passenger vehicles — by simply passing a physical vision and aptitude screening.
The agreement covers a broad range of Korean license types, including Class 1 large, special and standard licenses, as well as Class 2 standard licenses. The arrangement is reciprocal, allowing Montana residents legally staying in Korea to exchange their Class D licenses for a Korean Class 2 license under a similarly streamlined process.
The addition of Montana marks the culmination of a decade of diplomatic efforts.
Since 2014, the Korean Consulate General in Seattle and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have lobbied state officials to recognize the rigor of Korea’s licensing standards. Montana now joins 29 other U.S. jurisdictions that have already established such ties, including major hubs like Texas, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, which signed the first such deal in 2010.
Other qualifying states include Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the territory of Guam. In some cases, such as Ohio and Kentucky, a written test is still required, although the road test is waived.
While the agreement simplifies life for the estimated 1,350 Koreans living in Montana, officials noted that short-term visitors must still carry an international driving permit along with their original license. The National Police Agency described the move as a vital step in "strengthening friendly ties" and supporting the growing international footprint of Korean business professionals.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
