Seoul’s streets are full of Chinese tourists drawn by South Korea’s lavish department stores, its glamorous pop stars – and now its driving schools.
China made it harder to get a driving licence last year. Novice drivers must now take 78 hours of tuition at a cost of about Rmb4,000 ($644) before taking a test that many fail.
Conversely, South Korea drastically relaxed its rules in June 2011, meaning that a very inexperienced driver – local or foreign – can typically acquire a licence after just 13 hours of tuition at a cost of Won 450,000 ($426). Competent Chinese drivers can get a South Korean licence in a one-day process that costs just Won 67,000 and convert it once they return home.