Can a South Korean Drive in Malaysia? — IDP Recommended + the Left-Side Switch
South Korea
Malaysia
Yes, and bring a 1949-model IDP with your Korean licence: both countries use that convention. Malaysia drives on the left, and its 0.05% alcohol limit sits above Korea's 0.03%.
A Korean licence holder can rent and drive a car in Malaysia, and the document to pack with it is an international driving permit in the 1949 Geneva model. Korea joined that convention in 1971 and Malaysia in 1958, so the permit issued at home is the one Malaysian police and hire firms recognise. The harder part is physical: Malaysian traffic runs on the left, the mirror image of Seoul.
Getting the paperwork right
Apply for the permit in Korea before departure; it cannot be issued once you land. At the rental counter, put down three things: the Korean licence, the IDP and your passport. Nobody publishes a Malaysia rule written for Korean licences specifically, so we lean on the nearest official guidance. Ottawa tells Canadians their licences are good for 3 months. London tells British drivers they need the 1949 permit and the licence together. Following the stricter of the two costs a small fee and removes any question at a checkpoint.
Korea and Malaysia side by side
| South Korea | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Side of the road | right | left |
| Expressway | 100 km/h (120 on designated routes) | 110 km/h |
| General limit outside towns | 60 km/h on ordinary roads | 90 km/h |
| Alcohol | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Emergency | 112 police, 119 ambulance and fire | 999, fire 994 |
Two figures surprise Korean drivers. Malaysian expressways allow a little more than most Korean ones, and ordinary roads outside towns allow a lot more than the 60 km/h you know from home. In towns the limit is lower and is posted on signs, so watch for them as you come off the highway.
Your first hours on the left
Every Korean reflex points the wrong way for a while. The driver’s seat is on the right, roundabouts turn clockwise, and an empty road invites you to drift back to the right-hand lane. The usual trouble spots are leaving a petrol station, the first right turn across traffic, and multi-lane exits on the expressway. Collect the car outside peak hours, choose an automatic, and keep the radio off until the movements feel normal.
Motorbikes at every light
Korean city traffic is busy, but it rarely looks like a Malaysian junction at rush hour, where dozens of motorcycles slip between cars and gather at the stop line. They pass on both sides. Before turning, changing lane or opening a door, look over your left shoulder. GOV.UK also notes that drivers often ignore traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, so do not trust a green light blindly.
Peninsula versus Borneo
The North-South Expressway connects most of the peninsula and is the easiest road in the country. If your trip includes Sabah or Sarawak, expect a change. GOV.UK says roads in East Malaysia are not as good as those on the peninsula, so budget more time and avoid driving there after dark.
Breath tests and on-the-spot fines
Malaysia sets 0.05% for every driver under section 45G of the Road Transport Act, amended in 2020. It is higher than the Korean 0.03%, but treating it as extra room would be a mistake. Police run regular breath tests, and Canada warns of fines, prison and licence suspension for drink-driving. The same advice says on-the-spot fines for traffic offences are common. Ask for a receipt for any fine you pay.
Kit in the boot
Every car must carry a warning triangle. A first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are recommended. Check the triangle is there when you collect the car, because the hire desk may not mention it.
When something goes wrong
Dial 999 for police and ambulance, 994 for fire. The 112 and 119 you know from Korea are not the numbers to rely on here.
For tolls, parking and more rules, see the Malaysia driving guide. Use the Driving Permit Checker if you plan to continue to Singapore or Thailand, and the Speed Limit Map to compare limits.
Sources
- Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2020 (Act A1618), amended section 45G on the prescribed alcohol limit: lom.agc.gov.my
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Malaysia: safety and security (1949 IDP with licence; breath tests; road conditions): gov.uk
- Global Affairs Canada, Malaysia travel advice (licence valid 3 months; left-hand traffic; drink-driving penalties; on-the-spot fines; 999): travel.gc.ca
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Malaysia 1958, Republic of Korea 1971): treaties.un.org
- Korea Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rule, article 19 (expressway and ordinary-road speed limits)
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Malaysia profile (90 km/h general, 110 km/h motorway) and Republic of Korea profile (0.03 g/dl): who.int, who.int
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes for a short visit, and carry a 1949 Geneva Convention permit with it. Korea and Malaysia are both parties to that convention; Canada's advice says foreign licences of its citizens work for 3 months, while UK advice tells British drivers they need the 1949 permit with the licence. Get it in Korea before you fly.
The left, the opposite of South Korea. Roundabouts flow clockwise and you sit on the right of the car, so the first hour needs deliberate concentration at every junction.
0.05% for all drivers under the Road Transport Act s.45G (as amended in 2020), a little above Korea's 0.03%. Police run regular breath tests, so keep your home habit of no alcohol before driving.
The side of the road is reversed, expressways run faster (110 km/h against Korea's usual 100), the alcohol limit is slightly higher (0.05% against 0.03%), and the emergency number is 999 instead of 112 and 119. Motorcycles that filter between lanes are far more common than in Korean cities.