Taxi in Korea: Kakao T, k.ride, Fares and Night Surcharge

What to do

For a short trip in Seoul, hail a regular taxi on the street or at a stand and let the meter run. If you want to book from your phone without a Korean account, install k.ride before you travel. Late at night, expect the fare to be 20% to 40% higher than in the daytime.

How much does a taxi cost in Seoul?

A regular Seoul taxi costs ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. After that, the meter adds ₩100 for every 131 m. Below 15.72 km/h, the meter also charges ₩100 for every 30 seconds.

Deluxe, SUV and van taxis cost more. Their base fare is ₩7,000 for the first 3 km, then ₩200 per 151 m or ₩200 per 36 seconds in slow traffic. The city lists these fares as in force since 4:00 on 1 February 2023.

Taxi type	Base fare	Distance charge	Time charge
Regular (sedan)	₩4,800 for 1.6 km	₩100 per 131 m	₩100 per 30 s
Deluxe, SUV or van	₩7,000 for 3 km	₩200 per 151 m	₩200 per 36 s

App brand taxis such as Kakao Black or Kakao Venti do not follow this meter table. Seoul notes that these brand services use flexible pricing, so check the fare shown in the app before you confirm.

When does the late-night surcharge apply?

The late-night surcharge in Seoul runs from 22:00 to 04:00. For regular taxis it rises in the middle of the night and drops again before dawn:

Time	Surcharge (regular taxi)	Base fare for first 1.6 km
22:00 to 23:00	20%	₩5,800
23:00 to 02:00	40%	₩6,700
02:00 to 04:00	20%	₩5,800

Deluxe, SUV and van taxis add a flat 20% for the whole 22:00 to 04:00 window. If you are out late, a short subway ride before midnight can be much cheaper than a taxi at 00:30.

What about trips outside Seoul?

Seoul taxis add 20% once the trip goes beyond the city limits. This surcharge stacks with the late-night surcharge, so a night ride out of the city costs noticeably more.

You also pay motorway tolls. Seoul’s fare rules say the actual toll amount is charged when the taxi passes a toll gate at the passenger’s request. The numbers on this page are Seoul’s published fares.

How do foreigners book a taxi by app?

The easiest app for a visitor is k.ride, made by Kakao Mobility. Kakao Mobility describes it as a mobility platform for foreign travelers. You can sign up with a Google, Apple or email account.

Key points from the k.ride page and the Korea Tourism Organization:

• The app runs in English, Japanese and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
• You can search for a destination and chat with the driver in more than 100 languages.
• You see an estimated fare before you call the car.
• Overseas-issued credit cards work, as do payment apps such as Alipay+.
• In Korea you can also reserve a taxi for a set time and place.

Step by step:

1. Install k.ride at home and sign up while you have good Wi-Fi.
2. Add an overseas card as your payment method.
3. Type your destination, or paste the Korean address from your hotel booking.
4. Check the estimated fare and vehicle type, then call the car.
5. Use the in-app chat if you need to message the driver.

A map app helps you check that the route makes sense. See the Naver Map and KakaoMap guide.

Taking a taxi from Incheon Airport

At Incheon, use the official taxi stands. The airport warns that illegal touts and call vans posing as taxis are common, and that they overcharge. Regular taxis to Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon start at ₩4,800. Pick them up at 5C, 6C or 6D in Terminal 1, or 5C (Seoul) in Terminal 2.

Taxi	Base fare	Terminal 1 stand	Terminal 2 stand
Regular	₩4,800	5C, 6C, 6D	5C (Seoul), 4D (Gyeonggi), 3D (Incheon)
Deluxe or jumbo	₩7,000	7C, 8C	see airport signs
International Taxi (foreigners only)	Flat fare to Seoul	4C	1C

From the airport, no boundary surcharge applies for trips to Seoul, Incheon, Goyang, Gwangmyeong, Gimpo or Bucheon. Beyond those areas, Seoul and Gyeonggi taxis add 20% and Incheon taxis add 30%. For train and bus options, see Incheon Airport to Seoul.

International Taxi

International Taxi is a service with drivers who speak English, Chinese and Japanese. Airport to Seoul trips use flat fares by zone, from ₩70,000 (zone A) to ₩95,000 (zone E) in a standard car, and from ₩100,000 to ₩140,000 in a deluxe or large car. Metered rides inside Seoul carry a 20% surcharge.

Book on the International Taxi website or app at least 24 hours ahead, or call 1644-2255. Cash and major credit cards are accepted.

Common mistakes

• Going with a driver who approaches you in the arrivals hall. Walk to the marked taxi stand instead.
• Forgetting the night window. The surcharge starts at 22:00, not midnight, and peaks between 23:00 and 02:00.
• Assuming the meter covers tolls. Tolls are added at the real amount.
• Booking a brand taxi without checking the price. Brand services use flexible pricing, so the fare can differ from the regular meter.
• Setting up an app at the curb. Sign up and add your card before you need a ride.

When this does not apply

The meter fares here are the ones Seoul publishes. Taxis in other cities may charge differently, so check the local rules there. For whether to tip a driver, see the tipping guide. Fares and surcharges can change, so check the official page before you travel.