Foreign nationals operating in South Korea

Amateurs holding licenses in other ITU jurisdictions can apply to the Korea Communications Commission for a one-year license to operate in South Korea.[18] International operators must use the call sign HL#/<home call sign>; for instance an America amateur with call sign KA1AAA in the Pusan area would sign as HL5/KA1AAA.

US military personnel

United States military personnel in South Korea are prohibited from communicating with amateur radio operators in North Korea.[19] The Commander, 1st Signal Brigade (NETCOM), is tasked with issuing amateur radio operating licences and call signs to U.S. military personnel in South Korea.

USFK personnel will operate with an HL9 call sign. Novice class operators will have an 'N' as their last suffix letter, Technician class will have a 'T' as the last suffix letter, and General class and higher will have 2x2 or 2x1 call signs.

USFK personnel are also prohibited from working mobile or from transmitters in private automobiles.

***US FCC License Test***
There are US FCC license tests administered here in Seoul, Korea. Please contact HL1IWD at [email protected], 010-8827-7359(phone) or HL1/WX8C, [email protected] for schedule. Anyone with any nationality can take this test. Once you get a US license or any country's license, you may apply for a Korean permit. Many Koreans take this test because US does not have reciprocal treaty with Korea. On the other hand we accept all nation's ham license and issue permits regardless of reciprocal treaty. Currently KARL is working on reciprocal treaty with United States.