Australia on a South Korean Licence — Why the IDP & Side Switch Both Matter
South Korea
Australia
Yes, with an IDP or English translation: NSW and Queensland ask for one when a licence is not in English, and yours is in Hangul. Australia keeps left; the alcohol limit is 0.05, and every emergency goes through 000, not 112 or 119.
Two things define driving in Australia on a South Korean licence: the road switches sides, and the permit stops being a formality. Your licence is printed in Hangul, and the states that set the rules ask for an English version of it.
Why the permit does real work here
Australia has no single national rule; each state and territory sets its own. New South Wales lets overseas visitors drive on their licence for up to six months, and a licence not written in English must be carried with an International Driving Permit or an English translation. Queensland also asks for a recognised English translation. Korea and Australia are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the IDP issued in Korea is the simplest answer. Arrange it before you travel and carry it with your licence and passport. If your route crosses states, check each one; the Driving Permit Checker is a starting point.
The side switch
South Korea drives on the right; Australia drives on the left, you sit on the right of the car, and roundabouts run clockwise. The first hour out of the rental car park is where this bites. Take that first drive on a quiet road, be deliberate at every turn, and avoid city centres until the new side feels normal.
Korea and Australia side by side
| South Korea | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Side of the road | right | left |
| Towns | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Open roads | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Fast roads | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Alcohol limit | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Emergencies | 112 and 119 | 000 |
Open roads are the shock. An ordinary Korean road outside a town is 60 km/h; an Australian rural road is typically 100 km/h, and state limits vary. Distances between towns are long and services thin, so plan fuel stops, avoid driving tired and watch for animals at dawn and dusk.
Fines are on another scale
Australian penalties are set by each state, and they are far higher than Korean ones:
| Offence | Australia | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| No seatbelt | AUD 350-700 plus 3 demerit points | KRW 30,000 (about EUR 20) |
| Phone in hand | AUD 350-1,000 plus 4-5 points | KRW 70,000 (about EUR 48) |
| Red light | AUD 450-650 plus 3 points | KRW 60,000 (about EUR 42) |
| Speeding 1-10 over | AUD 120-280 | KRW 30,000-40,000 |
| Speeding over 45 over | AUD 1,300-3,700 plus suspension | KRW 130,000 and up beyond 60 over |
The same behaviour that costs the price of a lunch in Korea can cost a visitor several hundred euros in Australia, and demerit points follow you. Estimate the cost of a case on the Speeding Fine Calculator.
Two states, two rule sets
A road trip that starts in Sydney and ends in Brisbane crosses from one rule set to another, which is why a permit that meets both is the safe choice. Keep the IDP and the Korean card together, never in different bags. If a hire company has its own conditions, ask for them in writing at booking, because a desk can refuse a car even to a driver who is legal on the road. Plan driving days with rest breaks, since a long Australian leg feels very different from a Korean expressway hop.
Alcohol
The limit is 0.05 for fully licensed drivers, looser than Korea’s 0.03 on paper, but random breath testing is routine. Drink nothing before driving.
At the rental desk and on the road
Show the licence, the permit and your passport. Photograph the car, check where the indicators and wipers are, and set the map app to a language you read. Australia uses 000 for police, ambulance and fire, and neither Korea’s 112 nor 119 works there. The Australia driving guide has the state-by-state detail.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, visiting NSW from overseas (six months; English translation or IDP for licences not in English): nsw.gov.au
- Queensland Government, driving in Queensland on an overseas licence (recognised English translation): qld.gov.au
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Australia 1954, Republic of Korea 1971): treaties.un.org
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Australia profile (0.05 g/dl; 50 km/h urban; random breath testing): who.int
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Republic of Korea profile (0.03 g/dl): who.int
- Australian Government, Triple Zero (000): infrastructure.gov.au
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as a visitor, but carry an International Driving Permit or an English translation with it. New South Wales requires one for licences not in English and lets visitors drive for up to six months; Queensland also asks for a recognised translation. Korea and Australia are both parties to the 1949 convention, so the Korean IDP works.
Australia drives on the left, the opposite of South Korea. The first day is the risk: roundabouts run clockwise and your reflex at junctions points the wrong way.
0.05 for fully licensed drivers, above Korea's 0.03. Random breath testing is routine, so keep the Korean habit of not drinking at all before driving.
Much higher. A missing seatbelt is AUD 350-700 plus 3 demerit points, against KRW 30,000 (about EUR 20) in Korea, and a phone in hand is AUD 350-1,000 plus 4-5 points, against KRW 70,000. Amounts vary by state.