South Africa on a South Korean Licence — IDP Required + the Switch to the Left

South Africa is a rewarding country to drive across, with long national routes that make a self-drive holiday worthwhile. For a South Korean traveller, two requirements stand out — a permit that does a real job, and a side of the road you haven’t used before.

The verdict: the IDP isn’t optional here

You can drive in South Africa on your South Korean licence provided you carry an International Driving Permit. For drivers from English-speaking countries the IDP is half formality; for a Korean licence it’s substantive, because it renders your licence into a form local police and rental desks can read. Apply for it in Korea before you leave — it cannot be issued in South Africa.

The adjustment: switching to the left

South Korea drives on the right; South Africa drives on the left. That makes the side switch the thing most likely to catch you out, and the risk sits in your first day — easing out of a fuel station, a roundabout now circulating clockwise, the instinctive glance the wrong way at a junction. Take the opening hour on quiet roads and be deliberate at every turn until it feels natural.

What to plan for: city security

Beyond any speed sign, the issue worth preparing for is carjacking in urban areas — a recognised risk at city junctions and traffic lights. In town keep doors locked and windows up, leave room ahead at lights so you can pull away, and avoid unfamiliar areas after dark. Out on the inter-city routes this fades and the driving becomes genuinely enjoyable.

The numbers

Limits run 60 km/h urban, 100 rural, 120 on motorways — higher at the top than Korea’s 110 km/h expressway ceiling, so watch your speed. The alcohol limit of 0.05 is looser than Korea’s 0.03, but with regular roadblocks the safe policy is none. A minor speeding penalty is about ZAR 500-1,250 (≈ EUR 25-65), fuel is cheap at roughly EUR 1.12/litre, and 112 is the emergency number.

The full detail is on our South Africa driving guide; confirm the permit you need via the Driving Permit Checker.