Korean Railway Safety Act (4): Types of Railway Driving Licenses, Acquisition, and Training

Introduction: Responsibility Running on Tracks: All About Driving Licenses

Just as a license is needed to drive a car, a more stringent ‘Railway Driving License’ is required to control railway vehicles weighing hundreds of tons. This is not just about manipulation skills; it is a process of legally recognizing expertise in understanding complex railway systems and dealing with emergency situations.

For those interested in the South Korean rail industry, understanding the types of licenses, eligible ages, grounds for disqualification, and administrative disposal criteria for license cancellation is essential. Today, we summarize the driving license and training system, which is a gateway that prospective engineers must pass.

1. Types of Railway Driving Licenses (Article 10)

Railway driving licenses are divided into six types according to their power source and structure.

Diesel Vehicle Driving License: Diesel locomotives, diesel-powered cars, etc.
Electric Vehicle Driving License: Electric locomotives, electric-powered cars, etc.
Railway Equipment Driving License: Track work equipment, accident recovery vehicles, etc.
Streetcar Driving License: Trams (Streetcars) running on the road.
First-class Electric Vehicle Driving License: (A classification largely integrated with general electric vehicles today but still defined in legal texts.)
Second-class Electric Vehicle Driving License: Electric cars mainly used in urban railways.

2. Disqualification criteria for License Acquisition (Article 11)

Not everyone can get a license. If you fall under any of the following conditions, you cannot acquire a license:

Age Limit: Persons Under the age of 19. (One of the most common number-related criteria in Korean railway law.)
Mental/Physical Disease: Persons with mental illness, epilepsy, etc., who have significant difficulty in performing duties.
Drug Addiction: Addicts of narcotics, cannabis, or psychotropic drugs.
Elapsed Time after Cancellation: Persons for whom 2 years have not passed since the date of license cancellation.

3. Education, Training, and Practical Apprenticeship (Article 16)

To take the license exam, you must complete theory and function education of a certain time or more at a ‘Education and Training Institution’ designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Designated Training Institutions: State-approved institutions such as the KORAIL Human Resources Development Center and Korea National University of Transportation.
Theory Education: Railway Safety Act, driving theory, vehicle structure, etc.
Function Education: Actual vehicle operation and simulator training.
Practical Apprenticeship: A practice process received in the field to learn line familiarity and actual operation sense after acquiring a license but before actually driving a train. (Single driving is possible only after completing this apprenticeship.)

4. Cancellation and Suspension of License (Article 20)

Licenses can be revoked if laws are violated. The level of discipline depends on the severity of the violation.

Mandatory Cancellation: If a license was obtained by false or fraudulent methods, or if the person falls under disqualification criteria.
Discretionary Cancellation/Suspension: Drunk driving (blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or more), occurrence of a serious accident due to negligence, lending a license, etc.

Conclusion: The Weight Beyond the License Card

A railway vehicle driving license is not just a plastic card. It is a ‘promise with the state’ to safely transport thousands of passengers to their destinations.

A Solid Foundation: Create a chart of driving ranges by license type and engrave the numbers ‘19 years old’ and ‘2 years’ in your mind. Especially, the criteria for license cancellation when drunk driving (0.02%) must be remembered in conjunction with the personnel regulations discussed in previous articles. Laws are logical; if you read while thinking about why these regulations were created, complex legal provisions will become reliable allies helping your understanding of the industry.

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