(1) Any of the following persons shall be disqualified from obtaining a driver's license: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2014; May 29, 2016; Dec. 24, 2019>
1. A person younger than 18 years of age (in cases of a motorcycle, referring to a person younger than 16);
2. A person determined by Presidential Decree as being a mentally-disordered person or an epilepsy patient who may cause any danger or impediment to traffic;
3. The deaf (limited to licenses for large motor vehicles and licenses for special motor vehicles, among Class I drivers' licenses), the blind (in cases of persons who have lost the sight of only one eye, limited to licenses for large motor vehicles and licenses for special motor vehicles, among Class I drivers' licenses), or the physically handicapped determined by Presidential Decree;
4. A person who has lost the parts under the elbow joints of both arms or a person who is unable to use both arms; provided, the same shall not apply where a person can normally drive a motor vehicle manufactured to meet the needs of that person's physical handicap;
5. A person determined by Presidential Decree as being addicted to narcotics, marijuana, psychotropic drugs, or alcoholism, which may cause any danger or impediment to traffic;
6. A person who intends to obtain a Class I driver' license for a large motor vehicle or special motor vehicle, who is younger than 19 years of age or with less than one year's experience in driving a motor vehicle (excluding any two-wheeled vehicle);
7. A person who does not have the nationality of the Republic of Korea and does not register as a foreigner pursuant to Article 31 of the Immigration Act (excluding persons exempted from registration as a foreigner), or a person who fails to report on the place of residence in the Republic of Korea pursuant to Article 6 (1) of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans.
(2) None of the following persons shall obtain a driver's license, unless the period set in the relevant subparagraph has lapsed; provided, where he or she is given a final sentence that is less severe than a fine or a sentence suspension, or where he or she is suspended of indictment or subject to a decision of protective detention under Article 32 of the Juvenile Act on any of the following grounds, he or she may obtain a driver's license even during the period prescribed in the relevant subparagraph: <Amended on Aug. 11, 2015; Dec. 24, 2018; Jun. 9, 2020; Jan. 12, 2021; Oct. 19, 2021; Jan. 11, 2022; Oct. 24, 2023; Dec. 3, 2024>
1. Where a person drives a motor vehicle, etc. in violation of Article 43 or 96 (3), one year (or six months where the driver intends to obtain a driver's license for a motorcycle and one year from the date of such violation in cases of violation of Article 46) from the date of such violation (where the driver's license is revoked on the grounds that the driver drives a motor vehicle in the period during which the driver's license is suspended, the date the driver's license is revoked; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply); provided, where the driver fails to take necessary measures under Article 54 (1) and to report under Article 54 (2) after killing or injuring any other person, five years from the date of such violation;
2. Where a person drives a motor vehicle, etc. in violation of Article 43 or 96 (3) at least three times, two years from the date of such violation;
3. Five years from the date the driver's license is revoked (where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously, referring to the date of such violation) in any of the following items:(a) Where a person fails to take necessary measures under Article 54 (1) and to report under Article 54 (2) after causing the death or injury of any other person while driving a motor vehicle, in violation of Article 44 (1) and (2), 45, or 46 (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(b) Where a person causes the death of another person while driving a motor vehicle in violation of Article 44 (1) or (2) (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(c) Where a person for whom there is reasonable ground to believe that he or she is in a state of intoxication, in relation to Article 44 (5), after causing the death or injury of another person while driving a motor vehicle, etc., fails to take necessary measures or file a report under Article 54 (1) and (2), and engages in an act of interfering with a breath test (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(d) Where a person for whom there is reasonable ground to believe that he or she is in a state of intoxication, in relation to Article 44 (5), causes the death of another person while driving a motor vehicle, etc., and engages in an act of interfering with a breath test (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);
4. Where a person fails to take measures or report under Article 54 (1) and (2) after killing or injuring any other person on grounds, other than those specified in Articles 43 through 46, four years from the date the driver's license is revoked;
5. Where a person has violated subparagraph 6 (b) or (c) at least 2 times (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously), 3 years from the date on which the driver's license is revoked (where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously, referring to the date of such violation) and where a person who has committed any crime using a motor vehicle, etc., who has stolen or robbed another person of a motor vehicle, etc., drives such motor vehicle in violation of Article 43, 3 years from the date of such violation;
6. Two years from the date the driver's license has been revoked (where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously, referring to the date of such violation) in any of the following items:(a) Where a person violates Article 44 (1), (2), or (5) at least twice (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(b) Where a person causes a traffic accident while driving a motor vehicle in violation of Article 44 (1) or (2) (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(c) Where a person for whom there is reasonable ground to believe that he or she is in a state of intoxication, in relation to Article 44 (5), causes a traffic accident while driving a motor vehicle, etc., and engages in an act of interfering with a breath test (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(d) Where a person violates Article 46 at least twice (including where Article 43 or 96 (3) is violated simultaneously);(e) Where the driver's license of a person is revoked on any ground under Article 93 (1) 8, 12, or 13;
7. Where the driver's license of a person is revoked on grounds, other than those specified in subparagraphs 1 through 6, one year (or six months where he or she intends to obtain a motorcycle driver's license and one year from the date the driver's license is revoked in violation of Article 46) from the date the driver's license is revoked; provided, the same shall not apply where a driver's license is revoked on any ground specified in Article 93 (1) 9;
8. Where a person remains subject to a disposition to suspend the driver's license, the period of such suspension;
9. Where a driver who drives with an international driver's license or a mutually recognized foreign driver's license under Article 96 is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle, the period of such prohibition.
10. The period of installing an ignition interlock device pursuant to Article 80-2 (2) (excluding cases of conditional drivers' licenses).
(3) Notwithstanding the lapse of the disqualification period for a driver's license referred to in paragraph (2), a person subject to a disposition to revoke his or her driver's license pursuant to Article 93 shall not obtain a driver's license, if he or she fails to receive the mandatory special traffic safety education under Article 73 (2) after being subject to the relevant disposition. <Amended on Oct. 24, 2017>[This Article Wholly Amended on Jun. 8, 2011]