In 2015, Korea ranked 32nd among the 35 OECD counries in its rate of death per 10,000 vehicles, which shows more people are dying from car crashes compared to other nations.

To address this issue, it is necessray to improve upon the nation's driver licensing system so that more qualified drivers can drive on the road. However, the current Act is far from serving that purpose since persons who intend to obtain a Class I driver’s license from a specialized driving school may become qualified for a driver's license test just by taking a total 13 hours of training that consists of classroom education, skill training in a driving school and driving training on a road.

This 13 hours of training is not even close to one-third of the 60 hours required in Japan and the OECD average of 50 hours. In response, critics point out that the current system is churning out inexprienced and unskilled drivers by making it easy to obtain a driver's license.

Meanwhile, the current curriculum for obtaining a driver's license primarily focuses on skill training and thus, it is necessary to add a training program for strengthening the character and emergency response skills of drivers.

Accordingly, the Amendment increases the compulsory training hours to 60 hours for persons who intend to obtain a driver's license from a specialized driving school, adds training on character building and first aid such as CPR to the educational course, and otherwise reforms the driver licensing system, thereby aiming to nurture more qualified drivers (Article 73, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 7 and 8; Article 104-2 newly inserted).

Increase the compulsory training hours to 60 hours for persons who intend to obtain a driver's license from a specialized driving school; add training on character building and first aid such as CPR to the educational course; and newly insert obligations concerning the educational course of specialized schools (Article 73, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 7 and 8; Article 104-2 newly inserted)