Local's Guide to Taxis in Korea 2024 - Seoul, Busan, Jeju

Seoul taxis are known for their cleanliness, safety, and reasonable rates. This guide covers everything you need to know about Seoul taxi fares, payment options, types of taxis available, and essential tips for using popular apps like Kakao T and Uber.

How Much Does a Seoul Taxi Cost?

Seoul taxis operate on a base fare system with additional fare based on distance and time. The base fare is 4,800 KRW (about 3.50 USD) for the first 1.6 km during the day.

Late-night Taxi Surcharge

If you ride a taxi from 10 PM to 4 AM at night, a late-night surcharge will be applied to your fare. A 40% surcharge will apply from 11 PM to 2 AM, while a 20% surcharge will apply from 10 PM to 11 PM and from 2 AM to 4 AM.

How Do You Pay for a Taxi in Seoul?

For taxis hailed on the street, you can pay with cash, credit card, or your T-money card. If you book through an app like Kakao T, your fare will automatically be charged to the card linked to the app.

Do you need to tip the taxi driver in Korea?

There’s no need to tip taxi drivers in Seoul. Simply pay the amount shown on the meter or the app, with no additional charges unless previously agreed upon.

Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul Taxi Price

• Incheon Airport to Gangnam Station (60-90 minute trip)- Estimated 60,000 KRW (roughly 45 USD)
• Incheon Airport to Myeongdong Station (60-90 minute trip)- Estimated 55,000 KRW (roughly 40 USD)

You can get details on where to get a taxi and a real-time count of taxis at the airport here.

How to get a taxi in Seoul Korea

Flagging a taxi on the street - Korean Taxi Signs

Just like in other cities, you can wave at a taxi available taxi on the street.

There is a digital sign on the rear-view mirror indicating the taxi's status.

• Available taxis will have red text "빈차" ("empty car" in Korean)
• Reserved taxis have "예약" ("reserved car" in Korean) written in blue, green, or red.

If you need to flag down a cab, keep an eye out for ones that have the red text sign on. Don't worry too much about reading Korean as reserved taxis will likely just drive past you if you wave at them.

Taxi App for foreigners

In Korea, the most common way to get a taxi is through apps. The two most popular options are Kakao T and Uber. One thing to note is that only licensed taxis are allowed to operate in Korea, so you can only call licensed taxis and not personal cars through the Uber app.

The most popular taxi app in Korea is Kakao T which is accessible to foreigners, but Uber (formerly called "UT" in Korea) might be a simpler option if you already have an account.

Localer's Tip: If it's taking a long time to get a cab on Uber, try Kakao T. Kakao T has a larger user base and thus more cabs on the app.

What Types of Taxis are there in Seoul?

Seoul offers several taxi options to suit different needs:

• Standard Taxi: The most common type of taxi that usually operates mid to large-sized sedans or compact SUVs. Standard taxis are colored white, orange, or silver.
• Deluxe Taxis (Mobeom Taxi 모범택시): Higher-end vehicles, typically larger sedans, with a higher fare. Deluxe Taxis are colored black with yellow or gold styling.
• Jumbo Van Taxi: Ideal for groups or those with large luggage, is operated with spacious vans. These have the same fare as Deluxe taxis.
• International Taxi: Taxis that have drivers who speak English, Chinese, and Japanese. The cars look similar to the above options but have "International" written on the car. These have a 20% surcharge over normal taxis.

For detailed fare structures and taxi types, visit this page and navigate to the "taxi" tab.

Are Seoul Taxis Safe?

Yes, Seoul taxis are very safe. Only taxis with government licenses are allowed to operate in Korea meaning, there aren't any amateur drivers operating their personal cars.

Korean Taxi Scams

Although it is not common today, there is a small chance that the driver may try to scam you by taking a longer route or simply charging you more for no reason.

To eliminate any chance of being scammed, book a cab through Uber or Kakao T as they give you an estimated fare and route before calling the cab and charge you through the app. You can also look at the taxi meter machine near the gear shifter on the center console of the car to check that the meter starts at zero.

Localer's Tip: Calling taxis through an app is also helpful if you accidentally leave an item in the taxi since you can contact your driver through the app. You may be asked to pay the driver for the time spent coming back to you.

Alternatives to taxis in Seoul

• Seoul Metro - This is a great option when you need to get somewhere on time during rush hours.
• Bus - Buses are a cheaper alternative with stops densely located throughout the city making it a great option if you want to get off closer to your destination while using public transportation.
• Incheon Airport Limousine Bus - When getting to Seoul from the airport, a more cost-effective option is to take the Airport Limousine Bus. They operate a premium bus with storage for your bags and serve most locations around Seoul.

Riding a Taxi in Busan and Jeju

Riding a taxi in Busan and Jeju is basically the same experience as in Seoul. However, if you are using an app, Kakao T will likely send you a taxi faster than Uber. Uber has only recently started to seriously expand the app in non-Seoul regions, so they have fewer drivers available in other areas.

Busan and Jeju have relatively fewer public transportation options compared to Seoul so make sure to plan your transportation options ahead.