Can a South Korean Drive in Poland? — Yes with an IDP, 0.02 Alcohol Limit

South Korean travellers get an easy ride in Poland in one important respect: you already drive on the right, so the most disorienting part of many overseas trips simply does not apply. The preparation that does matter is the permit and a small but real change to the alcohol limit.

The licence verdict for Korean drivers

A South Korean licence is accepted in Poland when an International Driving Permit is carried with it. South Korea issues IDPs under the 1968 Vienna convention, so the process is clean: get the IDP before you leave, and keep it together with your Korean licence and passport. Rental desks expect to see the IDP as the standard translation, and police may ask for it. The home licence is valid for stays of up to 12 months.

No side switch — focus on speed

Both South Korea and Poland drive on the right, so junctions, roundabouts and overtaking all flow the way you are used to. That removes the biggest hazard many tourists face. The difference is pace: Polish motorways run up to 140 km/h, rural roads 90, towns 50. The network is good and improving, but local overtaking is assertive and the trunk routes carry heavy lorry traffic, so keep more distance than reflex suggests.

The alcohol limit is stricter than home

Poland enforces 0.02 BAC, below South Korea’s 0.03. The margin is small but the principle is simple — treat it as no alcohol before driving. Random breath tests are common, and exceeding the limit means fines and confiscation of the licence.

Before you collect the car

A minor speeding penalty is around PLN 50 (≈ €12), often paid on the spot, so carry a card or cash; the Speeding Fine Calculator can estimate any figure. Petrol is roughly €1.48 a litre and 112 is the emergency number. The Poland driving guide has the full rules, and the Driving Permit Checker confirms your exact document requirements.