Driver’s license is currently the most frequently used form of identification in Korea. Both the resident registration card and driver’s license contain personal information, and the driver’s license must be carried when driving because there is no obligation to possess a resident registration card. More and more people are holding driver’s licenses. In addition, unlike the resident registration card, which has a very difficult reissue process, even if a driver’s license is lost, it can be immediately reissued with just another ID card, so a driver’s license that has a certificate function and is easy to reissue is bound to be more useful, and driver’s licenses have gradually come into use. Eventually, the Supreme Court established a precedent that an Automatic car instructor also has the function of identity verification, and the driver’s license became an identification card on a par with the resident registration card and passport.
So, in situations where you need to present your ID, such as taking the national technical qualification test, entering a bar, or purchasing cigarettes, you are welcome to show your license. However, unlike a resident registration card, when you insert your license into a cigarette vending machine located in a university area, it is often not recognized. In addition, driver’s licenses must be renewed once every 10 years, and those with Class 1 ordinary or higher licenses are unconditionally demoted to Class 2 if they fail the aptitude test. Although it contains a relatively recent photo and address, the resident registration card must be renewed. Some people did not renew it after that. Among those issued before
Importance of renewing
Strictly speaking, a driver’s license has a higher status than a resident registration card and is comparable to a passport. A passport is an international identification card used around the world, and a driver’s license is a certificate that also serves as proof that you can drive. In addition, an English driver’s license can also serve as an official ID for tasks such as renting a car in another country. For example, American rental car companies recognize Korean English driver’s licenses as identification. If your driver’s license is not in English, you will need another form of identification such as a passport that shows your name in Roman letters. On the other hand, resident registration cards only serve as identification cards limited to the Republic of Korea and are of little use abroad. Therefore, there are situations where you need to present your ID card abroad. This is often resolved by presenting an English driver’s license, which is also useful when staying abroad.
Other roles
For light aircraft and ultra-light aircraft pilots, a physical examination certificate can be replaced with a driver’s license. Proof of aptitude test for a construction machinery operator’s license can be replaced with a driver’s license of Class 1 Ordinary or higher. The physical examination for a hunting license can be replaced by possession of a driver’s license. However, an additional opinion from a mental health specialist must be submitted.
Privacy Vulnerabilities
A driver’s license, like a resident registration card, contains the individual’s hometown/birthplace and gender in the resident registration number, as well as address and past address change history is included, making personal information protection vulnerable. Just to check if A is really A, there is no need to know where A was born, where he currently lives, and where he used to live. The moment you show your automatic driving lesson in Coventry to verify your age at a bar, the address listed at a glance tells you your current residence, and if you decide, you can see your living radius through street view. If you live in famous apartments, it even tells you your level of living and financial resources.
Unnecessarily highlight
There is no need to unnecessarily highlight factors other than identification. Even if you look at the Korean passport, even though it is an internationally accepted ID card, the information section does not include the individual’s region of origin, address, or past address change history. To solve this problem, additional elements other than those required for identification can be removed, displayed selectively, or hidden on the back. Unlike other countries, the Korean passport already omits the individual’s place of birth allowing the holder to write their current address on the back if they wish.