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Taking a Taxi in Korea: Fares, Kakao T and k.ride (2026)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Orange taxi parked on a Seoul street

Summary

Hail a taxi showing a lit 빈차 (vacant) sign, or book one in an app. As of October 2026 a regular Seoul taxi starts at ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km, with a 20–40% surcharge from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Kakao Mobility's k.ride app is made for visitors: you can sign up with Google, Apple or email and pay with an overseas card.

At a glance

Base fare
₩4,800 for first 1.6 km
Night surcharge
20–40%, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Deluxe base
₩7,000 for first 3 km
Pay with
Cash, credit cards, T-money
Visitor app
k.ride accepts overseas cards
Unmetered
VAN or CALL VAN taxis

Step by step

How to take a taxi in Korea

Step 1 of 9 · Destination in Korean

1Copy the Korean name and address

Copy the Korean name and address from your map

예시 호텔 대치yesi hotel daechiHotel name (fictional)

Read all steps as text

  1. 1. Copy the Korean name and address

    Copy the Korean name and address from your map

    Korean you will see: 예시 호텔 대치 = Hotel name (fictional)

  2. 2. Hail a taxi with a lit 빈차 sign

    Hail a taxi with a lit 빈차 (vacant) sign

    Korean you will see: 빈차 = Vacant

  3. 3. Queue at a 택시 승강장

    Busy areas have a 택시 승강장 (taxi stand): queue

    Korean you will see: 택시 승강장 = Taxi stand

  4. 4. Show the driver the address

    Show the driver the Korean name and address

    Korean you will see: 이 주소로 가 주세요 = Please take me to this address

  5. 5. Sign up in the app

    Sign up with Google, Apple or email

  6. 6. Set the destination and pickup

    Paste the Korean destination and check the pickup pin

    Korean you will see: 예시 호텔 대치 = Destination (fictional hotel)

  7. 7. Request and note the plate

    Request, then note the plate number and car model

    Korean you will see: 서울 12가 3456 = Plate number (example)

  8. 8. Check the plate and meter

    Match the plate number with the app before you get in

  9. 9. Pay and ask for a receipt

    Ask for a 영수증 (receipt) in case you lose something

    Korean you will see: 영수증 주세요 = Receipt, please

Korean for this

  • 이 주소로 가 주세요

    i jusoro ga juseyo

    Please take me to this address

  • 여기서 세워 주세요

    yeogiseo sewo juseyo

    Please stop here

  • 카드 돼요?

    kadeu dwaeyo?

    Can I pay by card?

  • 명동역으로 가 주세요

    myeongdongyeogeuro ga juseyo

    To Myeongdong Station, please

  • 영수증 주세요

    yeongsujeung juseyo

    A receipt, please

  • 트렁크 좀 열어 주세요

    teureongkeu jom yeoreo juseyo

    Could you open the trunk?

All Korean phrases

Details

Taxis in Seoul are metered, easy to find on main streets, and not expensive for short trips. Two things trip visitors up: getting the destination across, and the late-night surcharge. This guide covers both, plus the apps you can use from a foreign phone.

Before you start

  • Your destination in Korean. Save the place name and its Korean address as text or a screenshot. Map apps show both. Typing an English spelling into a Korean app or showing it to a driver often fails.
  • A way to pay. Visit Seoul says most taxis accept cash, credit cards and T-money. Carry some cash as a backup.
  • An app, if you want to book. These are the main options:
    • k.ride is Kakao Mobility's app for foreign travelers. Its interface is in English, Japanese and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). You sign up with Google, Apple or email and can pay with overseas-issued cards, Alipay and other mobile wallets.
    • Kakao T is the main Korean taxi app. Its App Store listing offers Korean, English and Japanese, but it doesn't say whether foreign numbers or cards work.
    • Uber. Uber's Seoul page says you can request a local taxi in the Uber app.

KoreaStep isn't affiliated with any of these services. We describe them only to explain how they work.

Taxi types

Type How to spot it Price level
Regular (중형junghyeongMid-size) Usually orange, white or gray Lowest metered fare
Deluxe (모범mobeomModel taxi) Black with gold stripes Higher base fare
Large (대형daehyeongLarge) / Jumbo Marked "JUMBO"; up to 8 passengers Same as deluxe
International (인터내셔널 택시inteonaesyeoneol taeksiInternational taxi) Black or orange, "International" on the door; drivers speak English, Chinese or Japanese Meter plus 20%
App brand taxis (for example Kakao T 블루beulluBlue, 벤티bentiVenti, 블랙beullaekBlack) Booked in the app Seoul lets brand taxis set flexible rates

Visit Seoul warns that vehicles marked "VAN" or "CALL VAN" don't use a taximeter. Agree on the price before you ride, or choose a metered taxi.

Step by step

Step 1 — Get your destination ready in Korean

Open the place in Naver Map or KakaoMap and copy its Korean name and address. Many Korean addresses are road-name addresses (도로명주소doromyeong jusoRoad-name address). Showing the driver a screenshot works even without signal.

Step 2 — Hail on the street or at a taxi stand

Look for a lit 빈차binchaVacant sign behind the windshield. A taxi showing 예약yeyakReserved is already booked and won't stop. Busy areas and stations have taxi stands, called 택시 승강장taeksi seunggangjangTaxi stand, where you queue.

Step 3 — Or book in an app

Booking apps share the same basic screens:

  1. Destination. Type or paste the place name. Pasting the Korean name gives the best results.
  2. Pickup point. Check the pin. GPS can be off near tall buildings.
  3. Car type and price. Choose a car type and check the estimated fare before you confirm. In Kakao T, the types are 블루, 벤티, 모범 and 블랙.
  4. Request. Wait for a match, then note the plate number and car model shown.
  5. Ride and pay. With a card saved in the app, k.ride charges it automatically right after the ride ends.

k.ride also lets visitors book a ride for a chosen time and place in Korea. Its recent versions add airport pickups at Incheon Terminals 1 and 2, Gimpo and Jeju. Support is open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Korea time, under the app menu's Support section.

Step 4 — Check the car and the meter

Before you get in, match the plate number with the app. For street taxis, check that the meter starts when you set off. Seoul requires all taxis to charge by the meter.

Step 5 — Pay and keep the receipt

Pay by card, T-money or cash at the end of a street-hailed ride. Ask for a 영수증yeongsujeungReceipt. It shows the taxi's details, which you'll need if you leave something behind.

Fares in Seoul as of October 2026

These fares have applied since 1 February 2023. Other cities set their own fares.

Regular taxi Deluxe, large and SUV taxis
Base fare ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km ₩7,000 for the first 3 km
Distance fare ₩100 per 131 m ₩200 per 151 m
Time fare (slow traffic) ₩100 per 30 seconds ₩200 per 36 seconds
10–11 p.m. and 2–4 a.m. +20% (base ₩5,800) +20% from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (base ₩8,400)
11 p.m.–2 a.m. +40% (base ₩6,700) +20%
Outside the city limits +20% +20%
Highest combined surcharge 60% 40%
  • The surcharge follows the clock while the meter runs, not the time you booked.
  • Toll fees are added at cost if you ask the driver to take a toll road.
  • International taxis add 20% to the meter. Between Incheon Airport and Seoul they charge fixed zone fares: ₩70,000–₩95,000 by sedan and ₩100,000–₩140,000 by deluxe or large car. Book at least 24 hours ahead on the International Taxi site or call 1644-2255.

Common problems

The app won't verify your foreign phone number. Use k.ride, which signs you up with Google, Apple or email, or hail a taxi on the street.

The driver can't find your destination. Show the Korean name and address, not an English spelling. If that fails, show the location on the map app.

The fare seems high. Check the time first, since late-night surcharges reach 40%. Check the taxi type too: deluxe and large taxis start at ₩7,000. If you think you were overcharged, keep the receipt and contact Seoul's 120 Dasan Call Center (02-120) or the Korea Travel Hotline on 1330.

You left something in the taxi. Use the app's ride history or your receipt to identify the taxi. Contact the 120 Dasan Call Center (02-120), or call 1330 for help in English, Japanese, Chinese and other languages.

You land late at night. Book an international taxi at least 24 hours ahead, or check the other late-night options in Incheon Airport to Seoul.

Questions and answers

Is Kakao T available in English?

Its App Store listing shows Korean, English and Japanese. The listing doesn't say whether foreign phone numbers or cards are accepted. k.ride is the version Kakao Mobility built for foreign travelers.

Can I use Uber in Seoul?

Yes. Uber's Seoul page says you can request a local taxi and pay in the app. Seoul's fare page also lists Uber Black among the brand taxis, with a ₩8,000 base fare.

Do deluxe taxis charge a night surcharge?

Yes. Seoul's fare table adds 20% from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. for deluxe, large and SUV taxis. Some older guides say deluxe taxis have no night surcharge, but that's out of date.

How much is a taxi from Incheon Airport to central Seoul?

International taxis charge fixed zone fares of ₩70,000–₩95,000 by sedan, depending on the district. Regular taxis run on the meter, and highway tolls are added at cost. See Incheon Airport to Seoul for the trains and buses too.

Can I pay with T-money?

Usually, yes. Visit Seoul says most taxis accept cash, credit cards and T-money. App bookings are charged to the card saved in the app.

Can I hail a taxi anywhere?

On most main streets, yes. Near stations and big hotels, use the taxi stand. Late at night in nightlife areas, booking in an app is often easier.

Official sources (8)

Last checked October 20, 2026Next check due January 18, 2027

Rules can change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.

Next stepNaver Map vs KakaoMap: Finding Your Way in Korea (2026)

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