Can a South Korean Drive in Sweden? — IDP Recommended, 0.02 Limit
South Korea
Sweden
Yes — a South Korean licence holder can drive in Sweden as a tourist, with an International Driving Permit recommended to translate your licence. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no side switch; the real adjustments are a stricter 0.02 alcohol limit and genuine moose-collision risk on rural roads.
Coming from South Korea, Sweden will feel reassuringly familiar in one big way and stricter in two others. You stay on the right, just like at home, so the hardest part of many European trips simply does not apply here. What you do need to get right is the documentation and a couple of local rules.
Driving on a South Korean licence
For a tourist stay you can drive on your Korean licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. The IDP is the official translation of your licence into the Roman alphabet, which is what Swedish rental companies and roadside police want to see. Carry the IDP, your original Korean licence and your passport together — the permit is not a standalone document. Apply for it in South Korea before departure; it is not available in Sweden. For a normal holiday this covers you fully.
No side switch — but a tighter alcohol limit
Here is the good news: South Korea and Sweden both drive on the right, so there is no left-hand relearning. The catch is alcohol. Sweden’s limit is 0.02 BAC, below the 0.03 you know at home, and enforcement is constant — random breath testing is a normal part of Swedish policing. Penalties scale with your income and can include a ban, so treat it as zero drinks before driving.
Moose are a real hazard, not scenery
The yellow moose-warning triangles along Swedish roads mark actual animal-crossing zones. A collision with a moose — heaviest at dawn, dusk and after dark — is a major crash because of the animal’s size and height. On forest-lined and rural roads, ease off and scan the verges, particularly in low light.
Speeds, cameras and costs
Limits run 50 km/h urban, 70 rural and 110 on motorways, with speed cameras widespread across the network. A low-level speeding fine starts around SEK 2,000. Petrol is about $1.88/litre, and the all-purpose emergency number is 112.
Read the detail on our Sweden driving guide, verify your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate a fine with the Speeding Fine Calculator.
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Winter tyres in Sweden — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are compulsory on fixed dates in Sweden: 1 Dec - 31 Mar (when winter road conditions are present).
- Legal winter tread minimum: 3 mm (5 mm for vehicles over 3.5 t) — not the 1.6 mm figure most guides quote, which is the year-round minimum.
- Accepted marking: M+S or 3PMSF — 3PMSF only for cars from 1 Dec 2028
- Studded tyres: restricted
- Penalty: SEK 2,000 (studded tyres out of season: SEK 500)
In Swedish the rule is vinterdäck, and snow chains are snökedjor — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Verified against national legislation, August 2026 · Full Sweden tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for short visits. Carry an International Driving Permit alongside your Korean licence — it provides the Roman-alphabet translation Swedish rental desks and police expect. The IDP is not valid on its own.
Yes. Sweden sets 0.02 BAC against South Korea's 0.03, and it is enforced with routine random breath checks. The safe rule is no alcohol at all before driving.
No. South Korea and Sweden both drive on the right, so there is no side switch to relearn — one less thing to think about on your first day.