Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the Mutual Recognition and Exchange of Driving Licenses

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties");

In the interest of facilitating road traffic in the territories of the two countries, and

Intending to ensure the mutual recognition and facilitate the exchange of driving licenses issued in the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Korea;

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. The Contracting Parties shall mutually recognize, for the purpose of exchange, driving licenses issued by the competent authority of the other Contracting Party. Driving licenses shall be exchanged in accordance with the table of equivalence set out in the Annex to this Agreement.

2.    The holders of valid, non-temporary driving licenses issued by the competent authority of one Contracting Party, who have been issued a residence permit in the territory of the other Contracting Party, may at any time apply to the competent authority of that other Contracting Party for the exchange of their driving licenses for driving licenses issued by the competent authority of that other Contracting Party, if they wish to drive motor vehicles in the territory of that other Contracting Party according to the provisions of this Agreement.

3.    The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall exchange the driving licenses, in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, without requiring the applicants to undergo any examinations relating to the applicants' ability to drive a motor vehicle.

4.    Paragraph 3 of this Article shall not affect the national legislation of either Contracting Party relating to restrictions on driving based on the age, health or mental condition of an applicant for a driving license.

5.   Driving licenses issued to driving course participants or to persons who are learning to drive in accordance with national legislation of the Contracting Parties are not the subjects of the mutual recognition of driving licenses for the purpose of exchange according to this Agreement.

Article 2

1.   The competent authority of the Contracting Party carrying out an exchange may require the applicant to submit the original driving license issued by the other Contracting Party, accompanied by a certified translation into the official language of the Contracting Party carrying out the exchange, or into the English language.

2.  The competent authority of the Contracting Party carrying out the exchange may require the applicant to submit a confirmation of the applicant's health or mental capability to drive the motor vehicles of the relevant license classification, and may deny the exchange of driving licenses if the health or mental capability of the applicant fails to meet the required level for the relevant license as set out in the national legislation of that Contracting Party.

3.   The competent authority of the Contracting Party carrying out the exchange may require the applicant to provide additional documents necessary for a decision on exchange of the driving license as well as to pay fees required in accordance with its national legislation.

Article 3

Upon the implementation of this Agreement, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties may apply their national legislation concerning the registration of drivers.

Article 4

In case of doubts related to the validity or authenticity of a driving license submitted for exchange, the competent authority carrying out the exchange may request the competent authority of the other Contracting Party to verify the validity or the authenticity of that driving license.

Article 5

1.   Original driving licenses taken for the purposes of exchange by the competent authority of a Contracting Party shall be handed over to the competent authority of the other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels.

2.   Upon receiving an original driving license, the competent authority of the receiving Contracting Party shall inform the competent authority of the sending Contracting Party of any inaccuracies or errors in the driving license or any doubt concerning its validity or authenticity.

Article 6

1.   For the implementation of this Agreement, the competent authorities shall be:

a) For the Republic of Korea,

National Policy Agency

b) For the Republic of Latvia,

State Joint Stock Company "Road Traffic Safety Directorate"

2. The Contracting Parties shall provide each other, through diplomatic channels, prior to the entry into the force of this Agreement with specimens of their valid driving licenses covered by the Annex to this Agreement.

3.  The Contracting Parties shall promptly inform each other, through diplomatic channels, of any changes to their driving licenses or any changes or amendments to their national legislation which may affect the implementation of this Agreement, as well as of any changes in the contact information of their competent authorities.

Article 7

Communication between the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties and communication through diplomatic channels shall be carried out in written form in the English language.

Article 8

1.   This Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties arising from other international agreements to which they are party.

2.   This Agreement shall be implemented in accordance with the national legislation in force of each Contracting Party.

Article 9

Any dispute arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved by negotiations between the Contracting Parties.

Article 10

1.   This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth (30th) day following the date of receipt of the last notification indicating the fulfillment by the Contracting Parties of all domestic requirements for its entry into force. It shall remain in force for an indefinite period of time.

2.    Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving the other Contracting Party written notice through diplomatic channels. In such case, termination shall take effect on the thirtieth (30th) day following the receipt of the notice by the other Contracting Party. 

3.   This Agreement may be modified or amended with the mutual written consent of the Contracting Parties. Such modification or amendment shall enter into force on a date mutually agreed upon by the Contracting Parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

Done in duplicate at Riga, on the 8^th day of March, 2011, in the Latvian, Korean and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

ANNEX

TABLE OF EQUIVALENCE

1. Latvian Driving Licenses which may be exchanged for Korean Driving Licenses

2. Korean Driving Licenses which may be exchanged for Latvian Driving Licenses