Motor Vehicles

E-7 and above or Command Sponsored Service Member (SM) has the option to purchase a vehicle while in Kunsan AB, or have your POV shipped.

The following requirements must be completed to be able to operate that vehicle on post and in the country of South Korea. Before your vehicle arrives on the ROK, you must obtain a Military Drivers License (Get with Your Sponsor for this INFO).

Step 1 – Receiving Your Vehicle

Pick up your vehicle at Seoul VPC @ (Camp Kim) in Seoul go through Gate 17 follow the sign to the VPC to Bldg. C1244. You can coordinate delivery at an alternate location such as Camp Humphreys. If you need assistance call; Phone: DSN 782-8912 / 02-798- 7036

Step 2 – Registration and Temp Plates

Once you sign and pick up your vehicle from the VPC; you need to register your vehicle at Pass and ID Office @ (Camp Kim) at Bldg. C1244 for TEMP plates (Wooded Plates, ), or your duty location. These plates are good for 10 working Days. To register the vehicle you must have:

 Your Civilian Driver’s License

 CAC Card

 Orders Assigning you to Kunsan Air Base

 Current Auto Insurance

 Current Registration on Vehicle from States

 Fee is required to be paid in CASH (USD Only)

Any questions about the process call Pass and ID at Phone: DSN 782-8912 / 02-798-7036

Gunsan City Registration for Local Vehicle Purchase or Command Sponsored Vehicles

Step 3 - Vehicle Inspection -

Once you arrive with your vehicle back at Kunsan AB you need to register your vehicle with true plates for Gunsan (Your Actual Plates for the Vehicle). To register the vehicle you must set up an appointment at car care center / gas station for Inspection (Cost $19.95) on base. Then you need to go to the Gunsan DMV to register the vehicle.

Step 4 - Register Your Vehicle to Downtown Gunsan DMV (A&FRC has navigation systems to get you there or use your sponsor).

The cost will be a total of 37,000 Won. Documentation you will need:

 Uni-Pass Korean Customs Import Document from Pass and ID @ Seoul

 Vehicle Inspection from Kunsan AB Car Care Center

 Application for New Vehicle Registration (Receive from Security Forces Office @ Kunsan AB)

 Temporary Operating Permit from Pass and ID @ Seoul

 Copy of Orders or Verification of Employment for Civilians

 Current Insurance Card

 CAC Card ( They will Copy ID )

 Military POV Driver’s License from Security Forces Office

All SOFA members of USFK military, the civilian component (including technical representatives), and their family members will fall under both the military and local driving laws.

Prior to deregistration or renewal of current registration, You will contact local Korean Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure the owner's license plates are not associated with delinquent traffic citations, notices of violation, summonses or judgments by summary courts. Vehicle renewal or deregistration will not occur until any outstanding traffic citations or concerns are fully resolved. Citation fines will be paid at the local Korean post office or Korean bank. All SOFA POV owners will deregister, or make legal arrangements for deregistration of, their vehicles before permanently departing from this command by reporting to the local PM or Security Force Office for a vehicle registration clearance check. When cancellation of registration of a POV is required by one of the events described above, the sponsor will immediately surrender the license plates and USFK Form 207 (Military Registration and Certificate of Title of Motor Vehicle) (Non Transferable) to the vehicle recorder. The owner will complete one copy of USFK Form 32EK. The vehicle recorder should verify disposition by examining the appropriate documents (shipping documents, bill of sale, transfer agreement, receipt from a U.S. property disposal office, police report, and other) and confirm that the POV has been disposed of as stated by the registrant. After verifying USFK Form 32EK, the vehicle recorder will affix his or her official seal, sign blocks 6 and 7, stamp "CANCELED," and forward one copy to the appropriate province office or city hall and maintain one file copy. If your car has been turned into the scrap yard, you will receive deregistration forms within the next 3 days from the broker (they will deregister it for you). After receiving your deregistration form, report to Pass and Registration for final deregistration.

SOFA member vehicle registration will occur at the Area where the SOFA member is assigned. If you are stationed in Kunsan AB, ROK you will register your vehicle at the Gunsan DMV. After the DMV you will need to register the vehicle through your pass and registration office at BLDG 1310 security forces. Below will be the required documents you will need to register your vehicle.

Gunsan DMV requirements and Base requirements:

1. Korean customs import document from VPC(Temp plates) if required
2. Insurance Cards
3. Korean Driver's license
4. Military ID
5. Safety Inspection NOTE: only if the vehicle is 2+years old
6. Cost for initial registration is approximately 20000-25000 WON. This total includes new registration fees (2000 WON) and both license plates (21000 WON). If you would like to purchase a mounting bracket, it will be an additional 7000 WON. Registering your vehicle after your 10 day window, for initial registration, will result in an automatic charge of 30000 WON. In addition to the automatic charge, 10000 WON will be charged daily following the 10 day window. If you purchase your vehicle from a Korean National, both parties will have to be present at the DMV for the transfer. If the transfer is between two military members, you will only need to pay 1000 WON since the plates have already been purchased. Individuals who purchase their vehicle from other installations must possess the seller/buyer's USFK FORM 20-E (bill of sale) and the seller's USFK FORM 207 (military registration and certificate).
7. Once you have completed your registration process at the DMV, you will be directed to the plate issuing office (Same Building) where you'll take all documentation from the DMV and provide them with (21000 WON) for permanent plates.
8. Upon completing your registration process, you'll have to return to the Pass and Registration office for final registrations/decal issue with the base. Bring all documents, inspection (2+years only), DMV REG, insurance, USFK license (received from us), Bill 0f sale (received from us before you go downtown). NOTE: If you buy a vehicle from someone on base, be sure to come by again to get a stamp on the bill of sale before you travel to the DMV.

Only E-7s and above are entitled to ship one POV regardless of the type of tour. Personnel contemplating shipment of a two-wheeled motorized vehicle, including mopeds, should contact their gaining unit regarding operation/registration procedures. Unleaded and diesel fuel is available on-base. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved testing of catalytic systems on POVs operating in Korea. This eliminates the requirement to remove catalytic converters from POVs. Under the DOD POV Import Control Program, the removal of catalytic converters is voluntary. If catalytic converters are not removed, unleaded fuel must be used.  All POV's have to be registered through the Korean authorities.

In order for any USFK service members in the grades of E-6 and below (to include their family members) to be eligible to be issued, or re-issued a POV operator's license the service member must be serving in Korea on a command sponsored tour. Authorization is required from their squadron commander. Occupation of a billet that is on the Command Sponsored Position List (CSPL) is not sufficient. The service member must actually be assigned on a command-sponsored tour "with family members" and those family members must be living in Korea with the service member.

The legal status of U.S. Forces personnel in Korea is determined by an international agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) called the U.S. and ROK Status of Forces Agreement.

Your assignment in Korea not only helps the ROK, it helps the U.S. accomplish important foreign policy objectives. This does not entitle you to any special privileges, except for those provided in the SOFA.

On the other hand, the ROK is very willing for you to live and work in as familiar an environment as possible and to have for your personal use the same type of services and facilities that you enjoy back home. In return for having these things, which are generally not as readily available to its own citizens, the ROK government makes two requests:

1. That you respect the ROK laws, and
2. That you do not allow the privileges granted U.S. forces to harm the nation's economy or that of its citizens.

The SOFA gives you benefits and protection. It enables you to enjoy the benefits of base and post exchanges, commissaries, military clubs, banks/credit unions and postal services. It protects your legal and civil rights in case you are involved in an accident or suspected of a violation of ROK law.

The SOFA also provides that the ROK government will take jurisdiction over USFK personnel only for those offenses which violate ROK laws, such as causing the death of another person, robbery, rape, or attempts to commit such offenses. Offenders remain in U.S. custody until all judicial proceedings are completed.

Black-marketing and drug abuse are two particularly serious offenses in Korea. Selling or transferring items brought into the country duty free to someone who's not authorized the same privilege is black-marketing. This covers everything from cigarettes to TV sets.

Drug laws in Korea are extremely rigid; do not violate them.

Traffic

For Americans, driving in Korea is truly a challenge. Korea is approaching the end of its first generation of drivers who learned driving when traffic laws, lights and driver's training did not exist in most of the country. Rough roads limit the speed.

As the number of vehicles increased, drivers obtained space on the road by competing for it. Chances are, their reputations as drivers were measured by their ability to obtain space. In addition, Koreans lack the generations of pedestrian safety training we have received, so pedestrians tend to forget safety rules such as wearing light clothing and looking for cars before crossing the street.

Criminal Offenses

Drunk driving -- Korean law concerning driving under the influence of alcohol is much stricter than U.S. law. Driving with a blood/alcohol level of .05 is a violation of Korean law. If you drink, don't drive.

Speeding -- Korea operates highway hidden camera program. Citations will be mailed to the driver's mailing addresses.

Cell phones -- Hands-free devices must be used while operating a motor vehicle on ALL military installations worldwide.

Vehicle Accidents

Under Korean law, the driver is responsible for the safety of pedestrians and others; if you have an accident, it will almost always be considered your "fault" even if you do nothing wrong. The Korean government will usually not press charges against military personnel unless alcohol, fleeing the scene, gross negligence (extreme carelessness or recklessness), or another major traffic offense is involved.

If you do have an accident, stop immediately. Do not attempt to flee the scene. If the Koreans believe you attempted to flee, they are much more likely to prosecute you. Make sure any injured persons are cared for. Take steps to prevent another accident. Remain at the accident scene until released by the Korean police. Notify the Military Police immediately so they can conduct an investigation as well. If you cannot get to a telephone, ask the Korean Police to call the Military Police. Prompt settlement is very important. Contact the claims office and your insurance company immediately.