Chile on a South Korean Licence — IDP, Same 0.03 Limit & Desert Distances

For a South Korean driver, Chile is an easy fit on paper — right-hand traffic and an alcohol rule that matches home. The thing that genuinely changes how you drive is the scale of the country once you leave the cities.

The licence verdict

Your South Korean licence is valid in Chile for 90 days as a tourist. South Korea sits outside Chile’s regional licence arrangements, so the sensible move is to carry an International Driving Permit with it; rental desks and Carabineros expect to see one beside your passport. Sort the IDP at home before you fly and keep the three documents together.

The alcohol rule you already know

Chile’s drink-drive limit is 0.03 — the same strict level South Korea enforces, so the habit you bring from home fits exactly. Treat it as zero alcohol before driving; Chilean enforcement is serious and penalties climb quickly above the limit.

The real test: desert distance and Santiago

Chile’s main artery is the Pan-American highway, and across the Atacama desert it runs for hours with almost no fuel, water or phone signal. Top up the tank whenever you can, carry water, and download offline maps before you head north. At the other extreme, Santiago’s traffic is dense and fast — give yourself room and stay patient through the city before the open road returns.

Speeds and figures

Town limit is 60 km/h, rural roads 100, motorways 120 km/h — above South Korea’s 110, so the outside lane moves on a little quicker. A typical speeding penalty runs CLP 38,000-70,000 (≈ €35-65), and emergency services are reached on 131 (ambulance), with Carabineros on 133. Main routes are well surfaced; remote and mountain roads roughen fast, so read the road rather than the sign.

Read the full rules on our Chile driving guide, confirm paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate any fine with the Speeding Fine Calculator.