Converting a Korean Driver's License to a Philippine One at Davao LTO in 2 Hours (about ₱1,200) + Davao Café & Durian Prices

Converting a Korean Driver's License to a Philippine One at Davao LTO in 2 Hours (about ₱1,200) + Davao Café & Durian Prices

In one line
A Korean host living in Bacolod converts his Korean driver's license to a Philippine one at Davao LTO in about two hours, and shows café, durian market and Korean restaurant prices around Davao.

💡 Key takeaways

[License conversion — documents & eligibility]
• Place: Davao LTO (right across from SM). Go to the license counter and say "license conversion."
• The host brought only two things: a Korean driver's license with English on the back, and his passport. Photocopy the passport photo page and the page the staff points to.
• The host is a Balikbayan, so he got it without an ACR card; he says regular tourists will probably need an ACR card as well.
• Earlier, Bacolod LTO refused him because they said an ACR card was required. The LTO website doesn't list ACR, but he heard it depends on the branch (and staff).

[License conversion — steps & time]
• Staff guidance → photocopies and application form at the canteen inside LTO (₱18; bring your own pen) → medical exam (incl. eye test) at a clinic outside LTO → submit at the counter and enter your details.
• Registration took under 20 minutes; waiting for the cashier to call his number took about 1.5 hours. After paying, 5–10 minutes later come fingerprints and a webcam photo, and the card is printed on the spot.
• About 2 hours from arrival to license. The waiting area had no air conditioning, he says.
• Now that he has one, he only needs to renew it when it expires, he says.

[License conversion — cost & caution]
• Medical exam ₱500 + issuance fee about ₱800, about ₱1,200 in total. Valid for 5 years.
• Someone outside LTO approached him saying "it's faster at our office." The host warns to watch out for scams and says you can do it yourself without a fixer.

[Davao food & café prices]
• Penong's (a chain said to be Davao-only): kangkong, liempo and a chicken leg for ₱665 total, unlimited rice served in a basket. Sweet-ish sauces, taste was just okay, he says.
• Matcha café inside SM: sea salt latte ₱190, matcha mallow ₱270 — the host found coffee pricey.
• Cafe Gervasius (downtown): Caesar salad ₱388, flat white ₱170, bread ₱175, a drink ₱160. ₱522 for the two of them.
• Korean restaurant Jung's Kimchi: budae-jjigae ₱450 (tastes closer to kimchi-jjigae); the jjamppong uses kalguksu noodles. Customers were mostly locals.

[Durian & sights]
• Magsaysay fruit stands: durian ₱100–150/kg (by variety), rambutan ₱50/kg, clearance durian as low as ₱50/kg.
• The host explains Davao grows durian well thanks to volcanic soil near Mount Apo, and most of it is exported to China. Fresher durian smells less and tastes sweeter, he says.
• Durian at the Davao airport shop: ₱150/kg; boxes come in 5 kg.
• Magsaysay Park has a black sand beach. Fridge magnets about ₱35.
• Chinatown felt more like a goods market than a food street, he says.
• Lots of police downtown; people in similar uniforms are security guards, he says.
• The host found the Davao airport gate area the weakest of any airport he's visited (just a hallway).

⏱ Chapters
00:00 Why go to LTO · the ACR card problem
03:06 Photocopies, application form, medical exam
06:12 License issued · costs
08:15 Lunch at Penong's · process recap
10:19 Café prices at SM
13:26 Durian at Magsaysay fruit stands
16:30 Chinatown · Jung's Kimchi
18:34 Davao airport

💬 What viewers said (81 comments)
• Many congratulate him on the two-hour conversion and look forward to driving videos.
• The host answered questions on notarization, how long after entry you can convert, how long you can drive on a Korean license, and whether foreigners can buy cars.
• Viewers shared experiences: notarization once took over a month; one got a 10-year license on renewal.
• Some laughed at the gap between coffee prices and durian prices.