Rules for overlanding in South Korea

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 30 December 2025.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna model) is accepted; check what applies to the licence you hold. To hire a car, a foreigner needs more than one year of driving experience in their own country, an International Driving Permit, to be over 21, and a passport.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — Vehicle insurance is compulsory.
Temporary import — An ATA carnet has to be paid for. Customs generally cap the maximum import period for a vehicle at six months, so contact the Korean customs authorities in advance for the exact procedure.
Alcohol — The blood alcohol limit is 0.03% and driving under the influence is treated as a serious offence. Night checkpoints for exactly this are widespread everywhere and breath tests are carried out routinely on drivers who are stopped. Riding a bicycle while drunk is also prohibited.
Helmets and seatbelts — Seatbelts are compulsory for every occupant of a four-wheeled vehicle, buses included, and helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. A child travelling in a front seat must be belted or in a suitable child seat.
Parking on a slope — Drivers of four-wheeled vehicles have to take precautions when stopping on an up or down slope, for instance chocking the wheels or turning the front wheels at an angle to the direction of travel.
Snow chains — Compulsory whenever weather conditions require them.
After an accident — Avoid arguments and call 119 for emergencies. Photograph the scene if you can, take the other party's name and phone number, and report it to your insurer.
Motorway tolls — Motorways are paid for at toll barriers. Prepaid cards and the HI-PASS transponder can be used.

What catches travellers out

Photographing people — Taking a photo of someone without their explicit consent can be reported as a crime in South Korea and is treated in the same bracket as offences of violence. Anyone caught doing it can be detained or arrested by the police.
No political activity — Korean law bars foreign nationals from taking part in political activity, including protests and demonstrations. A breach can mean expulsion from the country and a ban on returning.
Drugs and smoking — Drug offences carry extremely severe sentences, up to life imprisonment, even for small quantities of any kind of drug, and prison conditions are harsh. Smoking is banned in most public areas with very heavy fines, so use only the designated smoking zones.
Declare it at customs — Firearms and bladed weapons including imitations, meat and cured meats, animal and plant products, CITES items such as ivory, counterfeit goods and means of payment over 10,000 dollars all have to be declared. Using the 'Nothing to Declare' lane while carrying them risks a fine of 30% of the value or seizure of the item. Declare personal electronics such as laptops and cameras on arrival or departure so you can take them back out without duty.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 30 December 2025. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for South Korea before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 30 December 2025. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.