Seoul Taxi Guide: Types, Fares, Night Surcharges & Payment

Choose standard, deluxe, or large taxis; read the officially effective fare table; share a Korean address; pay and keep evidence.

Taking a Seoul taxi for the first time: from vehicle type to receipt

Prepare the destination's Korean road-name address, match the vehicle number before boarding, and keep the meter record and receipt. The figures below come from Seoul's official table effective at 04:00 on February 1, 2023, rechecked during research on September 12, 2026. Recheck the official Seoul table, its effective date, and every figure immediately before publication.[1]

1. Choose standard, deluxe, or large

A standard midsize sedan is most common. Deluxe is a higher-fare premium category. A large SUV/van may suit substantial luggage or groups of five or more; verify seats and baggage space in the booking screen.[1][2] A call van is not a large taxi and may have no meter, so agree on its price first.[3]

Caption: Example orange standard Seoul taxi; appearance may have changed since the photograph.

2. Read the official fare table

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This is the table effective 2023-02-01 04:00, not a fare branded by the current year.[1] Standard night bands follow 20%–40%–20%; combined with the 20% out-of-city surcharge, the displayed addition can reach 60%. Deluxe/large taxis also have a 20% night surcharge from 22:00 to 04:00. Actual tolls on the requested route are separate.[1]

Caption: Example modern taxi; do not infer the fare class from the model alone.

3. Show a Korean address

1. Save the Korean place name and road-name address in large text.

2. Show “이 주소로 가 주세요” with a map pin.

3. In an app, still match the assigned vehicle number.

4. On the street, red 빈차 means vacant; green 예약 usually means reserved.[2]

> Destination: [Korean place name]

> Address: [Korean road-name address]

> 이 주소로 가 주세요. (Please take me to this address.)

> 가능하면 미터기로 가 주세요. (Please use the meter if possible.)

Caption: Example Korean taxi; match the plate and app vehicle number before boarding.

4. Pay once

Official guidance lists cash, credit card, and transport card payment.[2][3] Foreign-issued cards are officially described as usable, but carry a backup in case authorization fails. If the app prepaid, prevent a second in-car charge. Distinguish meter fare from toll fee.[4] The first-day T-money guide may help.

5. Keep the receipt and report problems

Ask “Receipt, please / 영수증 주세요,” and retain the full vehicle number, ride times, and payment record. QR complaints support English, Chinese, and Japanese; photo/video reports can be emailed to taxi120@seoul.go.kr.[2][5] Foreign-language 02-120 service is published for weekdays 09:00–18:00: press 9, then 1 English, 2 Chinese, 3 Japanese, 4 Vietnamese, or 5 Mongolian.[2]

Caption: Example central Seoul road; congestion can increase metered fare and journey time.

Before you ride

• Save Korean address and map pin

• Match vehicle number, class, capacity

• Check meter and app prepayment

• Ask whether toll is separate

• Keep receipt and vehicle number

For an airport arrival, compare alternatives in the Incheon Airport to Seoul transport guide.

Final note

Address, vehicle match, meter, and receipt are the essentials. Because these figures are from the table effective February 1, 2023 at 04:00, recheck its effective date, base fares, night bands, and out-of-city surcharge on Seoul's official page immediately before publishing.