1. The most widely used ride-hailing service, Kakao T & Foreigner-exclusive app, k.ride

• Summary│ A multilingual taxi app for anyone
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  Description │ Kakao T is the most widely used taxi app by Koreans and tourists alike. The app offers a variety of vehicle options ranging from regular sedans to mini vans as well as service options like luxury taxis. Kakao T service is available wherever you are in Korea, including Jeju Island. The app provides the driver name and plate number information for passenger safety.
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  To use Kakao T, you must first make a Kakao account through Kakao Talk, a Korean messenger app. You can use your local mobile number to sign up. After making your Kakao account, download and install Kakao T on your mobile device to call a taxi. You can pay by cash, credit card, or Tmoney card to the driver directly or use the auto-pay feature. In 2024, Kakao Mobility launched k.ride, a foreigner-exclusive taxi app, which doesn’t require you to sign up on Kakao Talk. It is available in English, Japanese, and Chinese (traditional & simplified), and offers over 100 language auto-translation options for browsing destinations and chatting with the driver. It also allows international travelers to register their own credit card on the app for convenient mobile transaction.
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  Instructions │ Download and open Kakao T or k.ride app → Enter pick-up location and destination → Select taxi type (*Regular/Deluxe/Blue/Venti/Black) → Select “Pay to the driver” as payment option and confirm request → Wait for taxi dispatch message

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  Available languages │ Kakao T: Korean, English, Japanese / k.ride: English, Japanese, Chinese (traditional & simplified)
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  Download │ Kakao T: Android, iOS
  k.ride: Android / iOS

2. A convenient rental car service, SOCAR

• Summary │ A convenient and flexible 24/7 rental car service
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  Description│ SOCAR is the most popular rental car provider in Korea. It offers flexible rental options starting from 30 minutes and an app that is easy to use. To use SOCAR, you must have had a Korean driver’s license for at least one year. If your Korean license doesn’t meet the one-year requirement, if applicable, your driving experience in Korea under an international driver’s license can be used to meet the criteria.      
  The SOCAR app functions as a smart-key, so you don’t need to pick up any physical key to find and unlock the vehicle parked at the designated lot. If there’s no “SOCAR zone” (a designated SOCAR parking lot) nearby, you can pay extra and use the “Calling service” to have the car be brought to the parking lot closest to your location at a specific time. Users are advised to keep the rented vehicle clean as SOCAR has a penalty policy and charges customers for smoking in the car, failure to return the vehicle in time, damaging the car, and other rules cited in the contract to maintain cleanliness and quality service.
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  Instructions │ Download and open SOCAR app → Select [Customer Center] at bottom of the screen → Select [Submit & Request] → [Fill in Application] → [Submit License Permit] → Attach file and select [Register] → Select rental hours → Select vehicle type and location → Browse and choose from available vehicles → Return in time after use
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  Available language │ Korean
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  Download │ Android, iOS

3. A safe and convenient car-hailing service, TADA

• Summary │ Enjoy the benefits of convenient services, TADA
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  Description │ TADA offers two main services: immediate pick-up and booking a ride. Ride reservations are available in NEXT, PLUS, PREMIUM, and TADA with a car seat vehicle options, with the most popular being NEXT, which allows a maximum of five passengers to enjoy the benefit of free Wi-Fi, smartphone charger, and air purifier inside the vehicle. Also, TADA can control the vehicle’s volume levels, lighting, and temperature upon request.
  If you opt to book a ride, TADA offers regular reservation, charter service, and custom reservation features. Regular reservation is suited for airport transfers, whereas the charter service allows you to enjoy its services by the hour. Custom reservation is a combination of both the reservation and charter service offered at a higher rate, and includes convenient custom features upon request such as getting a English-speaking driver, meet-and-greet service, and more. TADA is also convenient for tourists as it accepts international mobile number for app sign up and credit card for payment.
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  Instructions │ Download and open TADA app → Select payment method → Enter destination → Choose TADA option → Call a ride
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  Available Languages │ Korean, English
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  Download│ Android, iOS

4. Foreigner-exclusive ride-hailing app, TABA

• Summary │ A ride-hailing app complete with up-to-date Korea travel information
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  Description │ TABA is a ride-hailing app made for international tourists with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The app provides information on recommended attractions ranging from restaurants and cafés to shopping destinations in Korea’s popular regions such as Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju. Browse the travel information on the app and select “Get a Taxi” at the bottom of the screen for a ride to your selected destination.
  TABA is easy to use as all you need is your mobile number to sign up, or you can also opt to sign up with your Google or Apple ID. The app also gives an estimate of the taxi fare based on distance and real-time traffic situation to your destination. You can choose the route you want to take among options like recommended route, shortest in distance, and toll-free roads as well as taxi types.
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  Instructions │ Download and open TABA app → Sign up and verify your number → Enter destination → Check route and fare, choose taxi type (Sedan/Van/Deluxe) → Automatic payment with the card registered in the app
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  Available Languages │ English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Russian
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  Download │ Android, iOS

5. Enjoy privacy with a personal driver, MOVV

• Summary │ A ride-hailing minivan service with a personal driver
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  Description│ │ Renting a car is always the better option over public transportation if you are traveling together in a group or have loads of luggage, especially if you plan on moving around all day. But what if you don’t have a driver’s license or can’t rent a van? Then MOVV is just the service for you. With MOVV, you can travel in a group of 4 to 40 people operated by a personal driver. You can select the vehicle just right for you and your group by checking the recommended number of passengers and luggage capacity for each available vehicle option.
  MOVV offers diverse options catered to traveler’s needs from airport transfer to adding a stop on the way. MOVV is especially convenient for international travelers as all you need is your credit card to book a ride and has an auto-translation live chat system allowing passengers to communicate with the driver or the MOVV customer center effortlessly.
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  Instructions │ Download and open MOVV app, make account → Select service type (Airport/Golf/Tour/Business/KTX+) → Enter destination → Enter customer information (Flight information, etc.) → Proceed with payment
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  Available Languages │ Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese
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  Download │ Android, iOS

TIP. Check Out Must-Have Apps for Travelers to Korea