Taking a taxi
Booking a taxi by app is safest — destination, route and fare are all recorded.
How to get one
- Hailing apps such as Kakao T. Enter the destination and the driver takes you there. No Korean needed.
- Hailing on the street — raise your hand for a taxi with the vacant light on.
- Taxi ranks
Good to know
- The fare runs on the meter. You don't negotiate.
- Late-night surcharges apply.
- Cards and transport cards are accepted — confirm before you get in.
- Keep the receipt. It's what lets you trace items left behind.
- Showing the destination in Korean makes it certain.
If something goes wrong
- Overcharging, refusal to take you, reckless driving — note the vehicle number and time and report to 120 (Seoul) or your local taxi complaints office. App bookings can be reported in the app.
- If you feel threatened, call 112.
- For items left behind — use the app record or the vehicle number on the receipt.
Where to go
- 1330 tourist interpretation line (24 hours, multilingual)
- 120 (Seoul) or your local taxi complaints line
- 112 in danger
- The customer centre of the app you used
Questions people ask
The fare was strangely high. Take the receipt and note the vehicle number. You can report it to 120 or your local government.
I think they took a long way round because I'm a foreigner. Booking by app records the route and reduces this. If you're already in the car, follow the route on a map app.
A driver refused to take me. Refusal of service is reportable. Record the vehicle number, time and place.
I had an accident in a taxi. Call 119 and go to hospital. Taxis are covered by mutual aid insurance. See traffic-accident.
Take care
When riding alone late at night, send the vehicle number to family or a friend. Hailing apps have route-sharing. If the driver heads somewhere unexpected, call 112 immediately.
Related
public-transport-card · traffic-accident · lost-item · call-112
Source
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport www.molit.go.kr / As of 2026-08