World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Italy signals progress on Korean driving licences and tour guide qualifications
South Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik met Italian lower house Speaker Lorenzo Fontana in Seoul on 2 November.
They discussed issues affecting South Koreans and businesses in Italy, including driving licences and tour guide qualifications.
Italy has completed talks with its transport ministry on recognising South Korean driving licences, Fontana said.
He said the two countries are working to sign a new bilateral agreement soon.
Italy has also discussed Korean tour guide qualifications with its culture and tourism ministry, but no resolution was announced.
Cho also asked Fontana to support fair treatment for South Korean companies operating in the European Union.
The licence agreement is the next step; the two countries have also raised the guide qualification issue with relevant ministries.
Italy’s lower-house speaker said progress had been made on recognising Korean driving licences and addressing qualification issues for Korean tourist guides in Italy.
Lorenzo Fontana said Italy’s transport ministry had completed talks on mutual recognition of driving licences.
He said Italy’s culture and tourism ministry had also discussed the Korean tourist guide issue.
Fontana met South Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik in Seoul on November 2.
Cho also asked Italy to support fair and non-discriminatory treatment for Korean companies operating in the European Union.
- Who
- Italian lower-house Speaker Lorenzo Fontana and South Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik.
- What
- They discussed follow-up steps on mutual recognition of driving licences, Korean tourist guide qualifications in Italy, and treatment of Korean businesses in the EU.
- When
- November 2, 2026.
- Where
- The South Korean National Assembly in Seoul.
- Why
- To address difficulties raised by Korean residents and businesspeople in Italy and discuss bilateral cooperation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cho visited Italy and raised issues affecting Korean residents and businesses.
Cho and Fontana met at the National Assembly in Seoul to discuss follow-up measures.
The National Assembly speaker’s office reported details of the meeting.
- Meeting date
- November 2, 2026
- Driving licences
- Italy’s transport ministry had completed discussions on mutual recognition.
- Bilateral agreement
- Italy and South Korea were working to conclude a new agreement soon.
- Tour guide qualifications
- Italy’s culture and tourism ministry had discussed the issue.
- EU businesses
- Cho called for fair and non-discriminatory treatment of Korean companies operating in the EU.
2 sources
What people are saying
The issue of mutual recognition of driving licences has been discussed with Italy’s transport ministry, and we are working to resolve it by concluding a new bilateral agreement soon.
The issue of Korean tourist guides has also been discussed with Italy’s culture and tourism ministry.
I ask for your attention so that Korean residents in Italy can smoothly resolve the issue of obtaining tourist guide qualifications.
I ask for your attention and support so that Korean companies operating in the EU receive fair and non-discriminatory treatment.