Getting Around
Taxis
How to get one, how to pay, and the handful of things that actually go wrong.
The short answer
Taxis in Korea are cheap by international standards and easy to find. Use Kakao T if you can get it working, and Uber if you can't — Uber operates here through the same local taxis, and your existing account and card just work.
Getting one
- On the street. A lit sign in the windscreen means it's free. Put your arm out. This works nearly everywhere except late at night in nightlife districts.
- At a rank. Outside stations, big hotels and department stores.
- By app. What almost everyone does. The car comes to you, and the destination is already entered — which removes the language problem entirely.
Kakao T or Uber?
| App | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Kakao T | The most cars and the shortest waits. Registering a foreign card often fails — but you can still book a ride and pay in the car instead. |
| Uber | Your usual account and payment card work with no setup. Same taxis, sometimes a slightly higher price and a longer wait outside central areas. |
If Kakao T won't take your card, don't give up on the app — book the ride anyway and pay the driver by card or cash on arrival.
Types of taxi
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Regular | Silver, white or orange. The default, and what the fares above assume. |
| Deluxe (모범) | Black with a gold sign on the roof. More room and a more experienced driver, at a noticeably higher fare. |
| Jumbo / van | For groups and luggage. Easiest to get through an app. |
| International Taxi | Booked in advance, English-speaking driver, fixed fares to and from the airport. Worth it if you're nervous about arriving. |
Paying
- Card readers are standard. Foreign cards usually work, but not always — don't be caught with no alternative.
- T-money works in most taxis. Handy if your card is refused.
- Cash is always accepted. Carrying some is the reliable fallback.
- No tipping. Not expected, not customary, and trying can be awkward. The meter is the price.
What actually goes wrong
- The driver speaks no English. Show the destination on your phone in Korean rather than pronouncing it — Naver Map's saved places are made for this moment.
- Refusals late at night. Around closing time in busy nightlife areas, drivers can be choosy about short trips. Booking through an app avoids the negotiation.
- The late-night surcharge. Fares go up in the small hours by roughly a fifth. It's official, not a scam.
- Tolls. The road to Incheon has tolls, and they're added to the meter. Also normal.
A driver who won't run the meter, or who quotes a flat price for a trip inside the city, is not the taxi you want. Meters are the rule everywhere except pre-booked airport services. Get out and take the next one.
A little Korean that helps
| English | Korean | Sounds roughly like |
|---|---|---|
| Please go here (showing your phone) | 여기로 가주세요 | yeo-gi-ro ga-ju-se-yo |
| Please stop here | 여기서 세워주세요 | yeo-gi-seo se-wo-ju-se-yo |
| I'll pay by card | 카드로 할게요 | ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo |