Taxi Stand

Taxi stands can easily be found at locations with a large influx of people such as bus terminals, major subway stations, and mega shopping malls. If you can’t find a taxi stand right away, look for signposts that give directions. Visitors in Seoul can call +82-2-120 and ask for taxi stand locations as well.

Types of Taxi

Standard taxis in Korea can be largely divided into regular taxis and deluxe taxis. Regular taxis can easily be recognized due to their yellow license plates and a roof sign that reads “TAXI.” Deluxe taxis, usually black in color, consist of expensive vehicles and offer a higher standard of service than regular taxis with standard rates. 

Apart from the standard taxis, there are also special international taxis that are driven by taxi drivers who can speak one or more foreign languages such as English, Japanese, or Chinese. International taxis were implemented in 2009 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for travelers’ convenience in getting to their destination from Incheon International Airport, Gimpo International Airport, or Seoul. International taxis are available in varied sizes to accommodate travelers’ needs. They also offer airport pick-up and drop-off services with reservations in advance or upon request on-site at the International Taxi Information Desk within the Incheon International Airport. The international taxi also has its own app, allowing travelers to easily book, hail, and pay for their ride.      

Website: www.intltaxi.co.kr       
Reservations: [email protected] / +82-1644-2255
International Taxi Information Desk (Incheon International Airport): www.intltaxi.co.kr/cscenter/information

Taxi Fare

Taxi fare varies by city and taxi type. Most taxis charge passengers the sum of the base fare and additional charges based on the traveled distance. Additional charges may apply depending on time and driving out of the region. Late-night fare is usually applied from 22:00 to 04:00 with the surcharge varying in amount depending on the time. The late-night fare is most expensive from 23:00 to 02:00.      

Based on regular taxis, the base fare is the most expensive in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, and Gwangju at 4,800 won. Base fares in other regions are 4,500 won in Daegu and Ulsan; 4,600 won, Gangwon State; and 4,300 won in Daejeon and Jeju. The base fare is applied to a traveled distance within 2 kilometers, and additional charges apply for every traveled distance beyond that. The additional surcharge also varies by region but can be estimated to be 100 won for every 130 to 150 meters.

The base fare for deluxe taxis is 7,000 won in Seoul for traveling within a 3-kilometer distance. An additional surcharge is 200 won for every 151 meters. Different standards may apply depending on the taxi company, and therefore travelers are advised to check in advance. 

International taxis operate on a different fare system from standard taxis. When traveling from the airport to Seoul, passengers are charged based on a fare table categorized by regional sections. If you’re taking an international taxi to travel within Seoul or leave Seoul, you will be charged by the meter with an addition of 20% surcharge.  

(Maximum surcharge of 60% can be charged for driving out of the region between 22:00 and 04:00 under the late-night hour fare policy)

Call Taxi

If you want to save time or hailing a taxi is not an option, you can use a call taxi service. You can either call a call taxi directly or use an app to have the taxi come to your location. Apps are usually the most convenient way to call a taxi since you can check the fare estimate in advance. Note that you may have to pay a small fee for using the call service charge apart from your taxi fare.      

Alternatively, you can use a taxi-hailing app called k.ride. Operated by Kakao Mobility, k.ride is a foreigner-exclusive version of Kakao T. k.ride is available in English, Chinese, and Japanese, and it’s much more accessible by non-residents of Korea as it allows social login via Google or Apple and accepts overseas credit card registration as a payment method.  

Related news: Calling a Cab is Now Easier with k.ride 

Uber is also available in Korea, and you can call Uber right away if you already have it installed on your device.