The good news for travellers to Korea is that taxis are affordable and reliable and they offer a convenient way to travel around Seoul and other cities when you’re in a rush. With busy subway systems often packed to the brim during rush hours, and confusing bus routes, hailing a cab can be a lifesaver when you need to get somewhere fast. If you’re travelling in a group, it can be cheaper, too!

This quick guide to taxis in Korea explains everything you need to know about catching taxis in cities across Korea like Seoul, Busan, Daejeon and Daegu. It covers how to hail a taxi on the streets or book one through an app, provides tips on communicating with drivers, and outlines the pricing structure and payment process so you never get ripped off. Read on to master the art of riding taxis like a local!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

How To Get A Taxi In Korea: Summary

Taxis in Seoul are relatively cheap compared to countries like Japan, the US and the UK, with prices starting at ₩4,800 ($4 USD) for a short journey. You can hail a cab from the street or use taxi booking apps like Kakao Taxi to call a taxi to your location. Taxis are a convenient way to get around big cities like Seoul and to get from Incheon Airport to your hotel, possibly saving you time and money.

To check if a taxi is available, look at the sign in the windscreen. Here’s what each sign means:

Taxis are broken down into four main types – regular, deluxe, international, and jumbo. These taxis each charge different fares based on the services they provide. More details about costs and types of taxis are covered later in this guide to how to get a taxi in Korea. First, here’s how to hail a cab in Seoul.

How To Hail A Cab In Seoul & Other Cities

To hail a cab in Seoul, simply find a main street and look for taxis displaying the “빈차” (empty car) sign, which will be displayed with a red light. This indicates availability and the taxi will stop to pick you up if you hail it by sticking out your arm and waving to the taxi. Alternatively, you can book a taxi using an app, which will be covered in the next section.

There are several types of taxi in Seoul that you can hail from the street:

Regular Taxis (일반 택시): These taxis are usually grey or white saloon cars that can accommodate up to 4 passengers with limited space in the boot for 1 or 2 suitcases at most.

International Taxis (인터내셔널 택시): These taxis look similar to regular taxis, but they are bright orange and can only be found in Seoul. These taxis cater to tourists and the drivers can speak other languages, including English, Chinese, or Japanese. The price for these taxis is 20% higher than regular taxis.

Deluxe Taxis (모범 택시): Taxi drivers in deluxe taxis are known for their experience and service, so you can expect a very pleasant ride with this type of taxi in Seoul in a more luxurious car. However, the prices are also higher for the same journey length and time, so be careful.

Jumbo Taxis (대형 택시): These large taxis can accommodate larger groups and people travelling with luggage, which makes them ideal for airport transfers between Seoul and Incheon Airport. Not so common outside of transportation centres like major stations and airports.

You can find taxi stands outside busy areas like bus and train stations, department stores, and central shopping and entertainment areas. If you can’t hail a taxi from the street, it might be because there’s a taxi stand nearby and taxis will only pick up customers from there. Look around and see if you can see a taxi stand, which usually has a signpost with the word ‘taxi’ or ‘택시’ on it.

How To State Your Destination

Once you’ve hailed a taxi, you need to tell the driver your destination. Try saying the location in English or Korean, or show the driver the location on a map app, such as Naver Map or Kakao Map. However, I’ve found some older taxi drivers have trouble looking at maps on phone screens, so this may not work. You can use those map apps to check your journey so you arrive at the right place.

Tip: Pick up a business card from your hotel as they usually have the address in Korean on them. You can show this to the taxi driver to get back to your hotel easily.

Tip: Make sure the driver starts the meter after you’ve stated your destination. It’s a legal requirement to use the meter and if they don’t, they’re likely trying to rip you off.

How To Pay For A Taxi Ride In Korea

If you hail a taxi from the street in Korea, you can pay for the ride at your destination in cash, by card, or with a transportation card such as the T-Money card. Card payments are the easiest method to pay as you don’t have to worry about carrying cash with you as you travel. You can use international credit cards (Visa / Mastercard), or a local debit card like a WOWPASS to pay for the taxi.

For travel money in Korea, I recommend getting either a Wise travel card (Visa / Mastercard debit card accepted in Korea) or the aforementioned WOWPASS. I use both to pay for taxis and other services in Korea. You can find out more about both of those in my article about how to pay in Korea.

Tip: Taxi drivers never ask for tips and it is not expected that you will tip them. I’ve lived in Korea since 2015 and never once paid or been asked for a tip by a Korean taxi driver.

Taxi Prices In Seoul & Other Cities

Taxi fares in Seoul start at ₩4,800 for the first 1.6km of your journey and rise by ₩100 for every 131 metres or 30 seconds in the taxi. This is the price for regular taxis in Seoul. Deluxe, jumbo and international taxis start with higher base charges and there are additional costs for taking a taxi at night. Outside of Seoul, the base charge is typically lower and the additional costs may be different.

Tip: You can work out the expected cost of taking a taxi in Seoul and other cities with Kakao Taxi. More details on how to use Kakao Taxi in the next section.

Here are the base charges for taxis in Seoul during the day and at night, as well as additional charges.

Late Night Taxi Surcharges

There is a late night surcharge applied to taxi fares in Korea between 10pm and 4am to cover the unsociable working hours. The amount you pay for the base taxi fare at night increases, with higher costs between 11pm and 2am. Due to the increased fee during these hours, it’s often difficult to find taxis right before the increase as drivers wait a while for a higher fee, even on taxi booking apps.

Problems Finding A Taxi In Seoul

Finding a taxi in Seoul at night has become increasingly difficult since the pandemic, with taxi drivers leaving the industry to become delivery drivers for Korea’s growing home delivery services instead. Some taxi drivers also refuse to accept low-value fares, although they are legally obliged to do so. This is a growing issue due to taxi booking apps allowing drivers to screen out low-value routes.

How To Book A Taxi With Kakao Taxi App

The best way to book taxis in Korea, especially for foreigners, is with a taxi booking app. The main taxi booking app in Korea is called Kakao Taxi and is useful for travellers as it’s available in English and other languages. Kakao Taxi allows you to enter your start and end destinations and search for nearby taxis. You can request different types of taxi and the fare you see is usually close to the final charge.

Here is how to book a taxi with Kakao Taxi:

Step 1: Open the app and select the ‘Taxi’ feature. There are lots of other services available in Kakao Taxi, but the taxi feature is the main one and can be found in the top left corner of the screen.

Step 2: Select your pickup destination. The app will ask permission for your current location. Move the ‘From’ marker to the correct location to choose where to start your ride.

Step 3: Select your final destination. Click on the ‘Where are you going?’ button at the bottom of the screen. You can either search by typing in the name or use the map symbol to move the marker manually to where you want to go to. If you can’t find your destination, search in a different map app and then copy and paste address. Once you select your destination, click ‘set as destination’.

Step 4: Choose your taxi type. Depending on your location, you will see a range of available taxis to choose from. The best option is ‘General Request’ as this will be a regular taxi that can accommodate up to 4 people. If you need a larger taxi, choose the jumbo taxi option (if it’s available).

Step 5: Confirm payment payment method. The price of the taxi will appear at the bottom of the screen along with a ‘Request’ button. Before ordering the taxi, you’ll need to confirm the payment method. Fortunately, the default option is to pay to the driver. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘Request’ again.

Step 6: Wait for your taxi. Check the progress of the taxi in the app. It will show you how far away the driver is and you can also track the journey from start to finish. Pay when you exit the taxi.

Kakao Taxi is available on Android and Apple. To learn more about how to use the app to book taxis in Korea, including how to set up a Kakao account, check out my useful guide to using Kakao Taxi in Korea, which includes screenshots of each step and more tips about how to book taxis with Kakao Taxi.

Tip: Apps like Kakao Taxi need an internet connection. Save money on SIM cards by booking them online from Klook before you travel. These are cheaper than the SIM cards at Incheon Airport.

Alternatives To Kakao Taxi

Travellers from other countries may be familiar with Grab, Uber, and other taxi hailing services where people can freelance and provide their own taxi services. Due to Korea’s strict taxi laws, these aren’t really possible and only registered taxi drivers can operate taxi services. Uber does exist in Korea, but it’s not widely used and offers the same services that Kakao Taxi does (booking registered taxis).

How To Get A Taxi From Incheon Airport To Seoul

There are many ways to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul, including high speed train, subway, and limo buses. Perhaps the most convenient for travellers to Korea for the first time, especially those with luggage or in a group, is to get a taxi from Incheon Airport directly to their hotel. There are all types of taxis available at Incheon Airport, including jumbo taxis that can take large groups with suitcases.

Taking a taxi from the airport direct to your hotel can save you time vs. public transport and may be cheaper than booking individual tickets for a limo bus if you’re travelling as a group. Travel time from Incheon Airport to central Seoul is around 40 minutes, but may be longer depending on the time of day and which part of Seoul you’re going to. Hongdae is closer than Myeongdong and Gangnam.

Tip: Order an airport pickup service before you arrive to ensure a taxi is waiting to take you to your hotel. Ordering online lets you pay in your home currency and avoids trying to get a taxi when you arrive.

Where To Get A Taxi At Incheon Airport

To get a taxi at Incheon Airport after you arrive, you should exit the Arrival Hall on the 1st floor through gates 4, 5, or 6 and cross the road, past the airport buses. As you can see in the map below, there are sections for regular taxis (outside gate 6) and international taxis (outside gate 4). These taxis will both take you to Seoul but the price is different, as explained later.

How Much Does A Taxi From Incheon Airport Cost?

The cost to travel to various parts of Seoul by taxi from Incheon Airport is displayed on the wall in the taxi boarding area to allow you to check the price before you get a taxi. The price of a taxi from Incheon Airport to Seoul depends on which district of Seoul you’re travelling to and can also include tolls. Expect to pay around ₩60,000 to ₩75,000 to get to central areas of Seoul by regular taxi.

Tip: Don’t let the drivers offer you a set price to get to your hotel, as this is likely to be much more expensive and there have been numerous reports of tourists getting ripped off in this way. Always use the meter and check the expected fare before you travel.

International Taxi Service From Incheon Airport

If you want to use an international taxi to get from Incheon Airport to your hotel in Seoul, you can book them online using the International Taxi website. This is a taxi service designed to help foreign tourists in Korea and provides taxi drivers who can speak English, Chinese, Japanese, or other languages. The service is focused on providing safe and convenient taxi booking from Incheon Airport.

The main benefits of the international taxi service is that you can book it online (at least 24 hours in advance), the drivers can speak other languages, and the prices to each district in Seoul are set. The cost of booking an international taxi service from Incheon Airport starts from ₩70,000 (about $55 USD). The price for a taxi to the Myeongdong area is ₩85,000 (about $65 USD).

Please note: The international taxi service is more expensive than regular taxis at Incheon Airport. There is also an international taxi service that offers services within Seoul, but this has a 20% surcharge on the regular taxi price. Due to these extra costs, I would recommend using Kakao Taxi or hailing a cab from the street instead of this service if you’re moving around the city.

Useful Phrases When Using A Taxi In Korea

Here are some useful phrases that show you how to get a taxi in Korea and how to give directions during the ride. Learning a few basic Korean phrases is a great way to understand more of your trip to Korea and makes a good impression when interacting with Korean people. You can also use translation apps like Papago to help you translate English into Korean and vice-versa.

How To Avoid Taxi Problems In Korea

Despite the Korean government regularly cracking down on the minority of bad taxi drivers, there are a few issues with taking taxis in Korea that it’s useful to be aware of. These problems are probably worst in Seoul and other touristy areas, but I’ve experienced them in less-touristy places, too. Here’s some of the common problems you might have taking a taxi in Korea and ways to hopefully avoid them.

Offering a fixed price: Taxi drivers at Incheon Airport might offer a set price to customers arriving to Korea instead of using the meter (as they are legally obliged to). This is likely to cost you a lot more, with some taxi rip-offs being as much as ten times the actual cost. Always use the meter unless you’ve pre-booked the taxi and paid in advance.

Saying the meter is broken: Another way taxi drivers may try to charge you a higher price is by not turning on the meter or telling you it’s broken and quoting a (higher) price instead. Be sure to check the meter is running when you start your journey and don’t accept a ride if it’s ‘broken’,

Taking a longer route than necessary: This is an issue I’ve had several times in Korea where taxi drivers take an indirect route to increase the fare. The best way to avoid this is to use Kakao Taxi and check the route as you go. If the driver goes off course, you can ask them why.

Driving at dangerous speeds: Time is literally money for taxi drivers in Korea and so some drive excessively fast and dangerously, including running red lights. I’ve seen a handful of crashed taxis who have done this. If you’re worried that your taxi driver is going to fast, tell them ‘chon-chon-hee‘, which means ‘slowly’ in Korean.

Fortunately, the number of taxi scams seems to be declining in Korea and with taxi booking apps like Kakao Taxi, it’s easier than ever to book a taxi in Korea and travel safely. Apply the same caution and common sense you’d use when taking a taxi in your own country and you should be fine.

If you’re think taking taxi is too much and prefer to drive by yourself, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on driving in South Korea for foreigners, it includes detail from renting a car, all the way to driving nuances in South Korea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to get a taxi in Korea. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

Liked This? Pin It For Others

If you enjoyed reading this article, then please share this with your friends on Pinterest.

Related Articles

How To Use The Wise Card In Korea For Travel Money And Cash

November 17, 2022March 22, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Travel

A Weekend In Seoul: Perfect Two Day Itinerary For Seoul 2024

April 19, 2024April 30, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Travel

Daebak Box Review 2024: Korean Gift Box Delivered To You

October 26, 2022March 22, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Culture

Kakao Taxi (카카오 택시) is Korea’s main taxi-hailing app and is available in English, which makes it really convenient for tourists in Seoul and other cities. To use Kakao Taxi, you need to setup a Kakao account or Kakao ID. I’ll cover how to do that (it’s easy) and how to use Kakao Taxi in this article.

The only small problem with using Kakao Taxi to book taxis in Korea is the payment screen where the app will ask you to register a card and register a Korean phone number. Fortunately, you can get past this and pay directly to the driver. This article also shows you a quick hack to get past that screen.

If you prefer to watch a short video version of this article, please watch it here:

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

How To Use Kakao Taxi: Quick Guide

To be able to use Kakao Taxi, you’ll need a Kakao ID. If you don’t have a Kakao ID, start with How To Create a Kakao ID. If you already have a Kakao ID, and have logged in to Kakao Taxi, then follow these steps to book a taxi with Kakao Taxi. You can install Kakao Taxi on Android and Apple.

This 7-step guide will show you how to use Kakao Taxi in Korea and how to pay with cash, credit card, or T-Money instead of registering a card with the app. This will allow you to use Kakao Taxi as a foreigner or expat in Korea without a Korean phone number, which is needed to register a card.

Step 1: Open The Kakao Taxi App & Select Taxi Booking

Open the Kakao Taxi application and click on the taxi symbol on the top left. It’s the first option on the screen. This will take you through to the taxi booking section. The app is listed in English as ‘Kakao Taxi’ and if you’re using a Korean phone, should be listed as ‘카카오 택시’

Step 2: Choose Your Start Location

Enter the name of the place you want to start from. This will default to your current location if you have enabled location tracking. If you want to change the start location, type in the name or address of the location or click on the map symbol to choose from a location on the map.

Tip: Using the map search function is the best option as you can choose which side of the street the taxi will arrive on as well as correct problems from inexact positioning by your phone.

Step 3: Choose Your End Location Or Destination

Select the end location of your journey in the same way as you chose the start location. Either type in the name or address of the place you want to visit, or select the location on a map.

Tip: If you’re not sure of the end location’s address, or can’t find it with the Kakao Taxi search function, use Google Maps and search for the address using English. Google Maps will show you the address in Korean, which you can copy and paste into Kakao Taxi.

Step 4: Choose Your Taxi Type

Choose the type of taxi you want to use to travel to your location. A standard taxi is labelled as ‘General Request‘ and this will be the same as the taxis you can hail on the street. There are also larger taxis and premium taxis. These offer a larger or more luxurious taxi than the standard taxis, but cost more money.

Tip: Always search for a ‘General Request‘ taxi first of all. However, if you can’t find a taxi, try selecting the ‘Blue’ taxi instead. This pays a higher fee to the taxi driver and is supposed to increase your chance of finding an available taxi. Unfortunately, you need to register a card to use the ‘Blue’ taxis, so this won’t work unless you have a Korean phone number.

Step 5: Select Your Payment Method

After selecting which type of taxi you want to take, the next screen will ask you to select your payment method. This is the step that causes problems for foreigners in Korea as the default option is to register a card, which requires a Korean phone number.

To use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number, swipe left on the payment screen to the second option, which is ‘Pay to the driver‘. Further details about how to do this will be explained after Step 7.

Step 6: Confirm Your Taxi Booking

After selecting the payment method, click ‘Apply‘ and you will be taken back to the taxi request screen you were at previously. Click ‘Request‘ to call the taxi.

The taxi will now travel to your destination to collect you. It will have a blue sign in the window to show that it’s reserved. The taxi driver may call or message to tell you when they’re close to your location.

Step 7: Travel To Your Destination In The Taxi

Once your taxi arrives at your location, enter the taxi and the taxi driver will take you to your destination. Once you arrive at your destination, pay the taxi driver in the method you chose and then get out of the taxi. The app will ask you to rate your ride and give feedback about the route, driver, cleanliness of the taxi, etc.

If you registered a card with Kakao Taxi, your payment will be made automatically. If you chose ‘Pay to driver‘, then you will have to pay with cash, credit card, or T-Money. More details about how to pay directly to the driver are in the next section.

Another way to pay for taxis in Korea and other services in Korea without having to carry lots of cash or use your credit card is by using a WOWPASS card for local payments in Korea. This is a Korean debit card and can be used to pay for taxis, shopping, meals out, and everything else.

Check out my article about how to get a taxi in Korea for full details about hailing a cab in Seoul or booking taxis using apps like Kakao Taxi. It covers taxi prices, different types of taxis, where to get a taxi, and some useful Korean phrases for ordering taxis in Korea.

Using Kakao Taxi Without A Korean Phone Number

To use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number, you need to book a taxi as normal in the app and in the payment section change the option from ‘Pay by card‘ or ‘Register a convenient payment method‘ to ‘Pay to the driver‘.

Swipe left on the payment screen to change to ‘Pay to the driver‘. This will bring you to the screen that allows you to use Kakao Taxi without registering a card. You can pay for your taxi journey in person with cash or card.

After swiping left on the screen to select ‘Pay to the driver’, you should press the ‘Apply‘ button to confirm your changes. You will be asked to confirm your taxi journey one more time and then Kakao Taxi will begin the search for a taxi driver.

The fare for the taxi journey won’t change based on the payment method and will be the same whether you pay the taxi driver by card or cash. Make sure the meter is running when you start your journey.

Registering a card to automatically pay for your taxi journey in Kakao Taxi is only possible if you have a Korean phone number. If you’re an expat living in Korea, registering a card in Kakao Taxi is convenient, but it’s not really necessary for short-term travellers and tourists.

It’s impossible to register a card in Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number and even if you have a Korean phone number, I would still recommend using the ‘Pay to the driver’ option as it’s simpler.

Should You Get A Korean SIM Card

If you plan to use Korean apps like Coupang Eats, Kakao Talk, or Kakao Taxi, I recommend getting a Korean SIM card. A Korean SIM card allows you to use apps and make online bookings. Order one for collection at Incheon Airport or to collect in Seoul or Busan. It makes visiting Korea easier. Check out my review of the SK tourist SIM to see how reliable and convenient Koreans SIM cards are.

How To Create A Kakao ID To Use Kakao Taxi

Before you try to use Kakao Taxi to hail a cab in Korea, you need to have a Kakao ID. To get a Kakao ID, you need to create an account with Kakao, complete the registration process, and then choose your Kakao ID.

To create a Kakao account you need to have a phone number. You don’t need a Korean phone number, but you will need to be able to receive a text message to activate a new Kakao account. If you’re in Korea, this could be difficult to do without a Korean SIM card and phone number.

However, as long as you have access to a phone number (Korean or international), you will be able to create a Kakao ID. You’ll also need your email address, personal details and Internet access.

Here are the steps to create a Kakao ID so you can use Kakao Taxi and other Kakao services:

Step 1: Create a Kakao Account

Install the Kakao Talk app to create a Kakao account. Once you’ve installed the app, open it and select ‘sign up’ to create a new account. You can install Kakao Taxi on Android and Apple.

Enter your email address, personal details, agree to the terms and then continue. Your Kakao account is tied to this email address and will be used to log in. You can’t change it later.

Please note: You can only install Kakao Talk on a mobile device, not a desktop computer.

Step 2: Enter Your Mobile Phone Number

You must enter a phone number to create a Kakao account. It doesn’t have to be a Korean phone number. Select your country’s dialling code and then enter your phone number.

You’ll be sent a 4 digit security code to confirm that you’re the owner of the phone. Once you’ve received the confirmation code, enter it and move on with your account setup.

Please note: if you apply with a foreign number, it can take a few days for the approval process to be completed. Korean phone numbers should only take a minute or two to activate.

Step 3: Complete Kakao Account Setup

Once you’ve received the security code and your phone number has been verified, complete the account setup by choosing a password (use lower case letters, capital letters, numbers and a special symbol).

Next, add in your personal information, such as date of birth, gender, nickname and an avatar. Some of these are optional and not necessary.

Step 4: Create Your Kakao ID

Once the account is setup, you can create a personal ID for the Kakao Talk app. Go to your profile and select ‘Edit Profile’ and then ‘Create Kakao ID’. Enter a unique ID with a combination of letters and numbers. If the ID has been chosen, try another one.

Step 5: Start Using Kakao Taxi

Finally, download the Kakao Taxi app and log in using the email address and password. After logging in to Kakao Taxi, you can start booking taxis in Korea without a Korean phone number. Click this link for instructions about how to use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number,

Tips For Using Kakao Taxi In Korea

Travelling to Korea and want to know how to use Kakao Taxi and how to get around Seoul and other cities in Korea? Here are some of my personal tips to help you travel more conveniently and safely.

Go to the nearest taxi rank: If you are trying to hail a taxi in Korea and they keep driving past you, it’s probably because you’re close to a taxi rank. Taxis won’t stop to pick you up near taxi ranks – you should go there and wait with everyone else.

Check the colour of the light in the taxi: Korean taxis have colour-coded light systems to show if they are available or not. These lights are attached to the rear view mirror and can be seen when a taxi drives towards you. Red means the taxi is available for hire. Blue means it has been reserved by a Kakao Taxi call. If you reserved a taxi with Kakao Taxi, look for the blue lights.

Check the licence plate number: When you order a taxi through Kakao Taxi, you will be shown the driver’s licence plate and name. Check the licence plate before getting in the taxi to make sure it’s the right one, especially if many people are waiting for taxis in the same area.

Always use the meter: If you hail a taxi from the street (or with Kakao Taxi), and they offer you a price without using the meter, refuse and get another taxi. This is how foreigners, especially arrivals at Incheon Airport, commonly get scammed and end up paying many times the typical cost of the fare. Taxi drivers must use the meter by law. Kakao Taxi shows you the estimated fare for the journey and the final fare should be close to this.

Be prepared for long waits at night: During the pandemic, many taxi drivers changed jobs and became delivery drivers instead, lured by better wages and fewer night shifts. There is now a shortage of late-night taxi drivers in Korea, especially in Seoul. The government has raised taxi fares at night in a bid to get more taxi drivers back, but it hasn’t been that successful so far.

Get a T-Money Card: The T-Money Card is a prepaid transportation card that can be used for buses, subways and taxis. When you use a taxi, you can pay for it with the T-Money Card. Check out my guide to using T-Money in Korea.

Buy a SIM card or rent portable WiFi: Even if you don’t need a Korean phone number to register a card with Kakao Taxi, having a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router will offer you amazing coverage across Korea’s advanced phone network. You need a network connection to use Kakao Taxi, too.

Learn some basic Korean phrases: A few simple phrases will go a long way when you travel in Korea, especially when you want to ask for and understand directions. If you want to learn a few phrases, including ones for getting around by taxi, here are 60 Korean travel phrases to start with.

How To Change Kakao Taxi To English

Kakao Taxi should default to the language settings of your mobile device. If your phone is in English, Kakao Taxi should be, too. If your Kakao Taxi language settings are in Korean, here’s how to change them to English in three simple steps.

Step 1: Select Your Profile

Open the Kakao Taxi application and click on the profile settings tab at the bottom of the screen. This is the image of a person and hosts all of your account settings.

Step 2: Select The Language Settings

Scroll down the page on the account settings tab until you see the icon shaped like a globe. In Korean, this says ‘언어 설정’ (Language Settings). Click on this option.

Step 3: Change Language To English

There are four language options in Kakao Taxi. The first is to use the language your phone is set to (as long as it’s one of the 3 languages provided). The second option is Korean. The third option is English. The final option is Japanese.

Select English and, after a quick app refresh, all the options in the Kakao Taxi app will now be in English.

Alternatives To Kakao Taxi In Korea

In South Korea, there are several ride-hailing services available. The most popular one is Kakao T, which was launched as Kakao Taxi in 2015 and has dominated the market for call taxis in Korea since then. However, since 2022, alternatives to Kakao Taxi have started to appear in Korea.

Uber, which has recently re-entered the Korean market with a new joint venture with SK Telecom’s TMAP, offers taxi-hailing services through a service called UT. You can also book taxis in advance using the app or website, but these are only really available in Seoul and to major airports nearby.

Additionally, Viva Republica, which operates the online payment service provider Toss, bought one of the major local mobility startups TADA and plans to offer a new service to provide taxi rides in Korea.

These services have been legally allowed in the city since January 2022, when the Seoul government changed its four-decades-old taxi industry development law.

How Do These Taxi Apps Differ?

Kakao T and Uber are both popular ride-hailing services, but they operate differently, especially in South Korea. Kakao T is an online mobility service in South Korea that was launched as Kakao Taxi in 2015. It allows users to book and pay for taxis through the Kakao T app.

The Kakao Taxi service hires licensed taxi drivers in accordance with local regulations, and the rate is in line with regular taxis. This ensures a more standardised service and passenger safety through rigorous driver and vehicle checks.

On the other hand, Uber operates with independent drivers who use their own vehicles. In many countries, Uber’s model has faced regulatory challenges. However, Uber has recently re-entered the Korean market with a new joint venture with SK Telecom’s TMAP, called UT, which also hires licensed taxi drivers.

In terms of user experience, some users on Reddit have mentioned that it can be easier to get a taxi with Uber (or UT) than Kakao T in certain areas or at peak times. However, others have found Kakao T to be more reliable and is certainly the more popular of the two options in Korea.

Personally, I use Kakao Taxi when I travel in Korea and have found it very useful and simple to use. However, in recent times there have been fewer taxis available late at night, which is partly due to fewer taxi drivers working those hours. It can sometimes be necessary to go to a taxi rank instead.

FAQs About Using Kakao Taxi In Korea

Finally, here are a few FAQs about how to use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

Liked This? Pin It For Others

If you enjoyed reading this article, then please share this with your friends on Pinterest.

Related Articles

10 Best Korean Side Dishes: Banchan You Can Make At Home

May 28, 2023May 15, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Food & Drink

What To See And Do in Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul In 2024

October 29, 2023April 30, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Travel

How To Survive Summer In Seoul 2024: 10 Tips To Stay Cool

July 17, 2021March 17, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Seasons & Weather