Taking a Taxi in Korea
Taxis are plentiful and fairly priced, but drivers rarely speak English. A taxi app solves most problems: the destination is sent to the driver and you see the fare estimate.
Which app?
| App | Why use it |
|---|---|
| K.ride | Kakao Mobility's app for visitors. Sign up with email, Google, Apple or a foreign number; pay with a foreign card. Offers the higher taxi tiers plus a service fee. |
| Kakao T | What locals use, includes the cheapest regular taxi. Needs a Kakao account; foreign card registration can fail — choose pay to driver if so. |
| Uber | Use your existing account. Connects to licensed taxis; fewer cars outside big cities. |
Taxi types
- Regular taxi (일반) — orange, white or silver. Cheapest.
- Deluxe / Black (모범) — black cars, more space, higher fare.
- Large / Venti — vans for groups and lots of luggage.
Hailing on the street
Look for the red 빈차 ("vacant") light on the dashboard. Show the Korean address on your phone instead of reading it out.
Paying
Most taxis take credit cards and T-money, and cash. Keep some won as a backup in case a foreign card is declined. Tipping is not expected.
Tips
- A late-night surcharge applies roughly from 10pm to 4am.
- Pay by card or app — the receipt helps you find the taxi if you leave something behind.
- At the airport, use the official taxi stand only.