It's 2:10 a.m. outside a bar in Hongdae. The last subway left an hour ago. Daniel opens Kakao T, but it wants a Korean phone verification he never finished, and his card from home keeps getting rejected.
Around him, a dozen people are waving at taxis with red "빈차" lights that drive straight past.
Set up two apps before you need them: Kakao T, which has the most taxis, and Uber, which takes your foreign card with no fuss. TADA is a good third option. In Seoul a regular taxi costs 20% extra from 10 to 11 p.m. and 2 to 4 a.m., and 40% extra from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. If no car comes, Seoul’s night buses (N버스) run until morning.
The three apps at a glance
| Kakao T (카카오 T) | Uber | TADA (타다) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Regular taxis, Kakao T Blue, deluxe, vans, black cars | Regular taxis (Uber Taxi), Uber Black | Mainly TADA Next, a larger van-type ride, plus premium options |
| Number of cars | Most by far | Good in Seoul, Busan, Incheon; fewer elsewhere | Fewer, mostly in cities |
| English | Yes | Yes | Yes, follows your phone’s language |
| Sign-up | Kakao account and phone verification | Your existing Uber account | Overseas phone numbers allowed |
| Foreign card | Hit or miss | Usually works | Supported, but varies by account |
Kakao T: the most cars, the hardest setup
Kakao T is what most Koreans use, so it has the most drivers, which matters at 2 a.m. when everyone is trying to leave at once.
Setup: you need a Kakao account and phone verification. With a Korean number in your own name this is easy. Without one, it often fails; see why sign-ups fail.
Payment: you can pay the driver directly by card, or register a card in the app for automatic payment. Foreign cards are inconsistent: some users register Visa or Mastercard cards for taxi calls without trouble, others get errors. A Korean debit card (체크카드) from your bank account is the reliable option.
Options: a regular call, Kakao T Blue (its own affiliated fleet), deluxe taxis, Venti vans for groups, and Black premium cars. Some options add a call fee (호출비) or use flexible pricing; the app shows the fee or estimate before you confirm.
Can't get Kakao T working? Kakao Mobility runs a separate app for foreigners called k.ride. You sign up with email or a Google or Apple account, pay with a card issued abroad, and it calls Kakao's taxis, including Blue, Venti, Black and deluxe.
Uber: easiest with a foreign card
Uber in Korea mostly books ordinary licensed taxis through Uber Taxi, plus the premium Uber Black. You don’t get private UberX cars like in many countries.
- Setup: log in with the Uber account you already have. No Korean number needed.
- Payment: your card on file usually works. Uber also lets you choose to pay the driver in person by cash or card. Your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee.
- Fare: Uber Taxi trips run on the regular taxi meter, with the same night surcharge. Uber Black has its own fare (in Seoul from ₩8,000 base) with flexible pricing.
- Coverage: strongest in Seoul and big cities. Late on a Friday you may wait longer than on Kakao T.
TADA: the backup
TADA has fewer cars but less competition for them. Its main service, TADA Next, uses larger van-type vehicles with their own fare (in Seoul ₩5,000 for the first 0.75 km) and flexible pricing that can rise when demand is high. TADA allows sign-up with an overseas phone number and payment with foreign cards, though users report card support can vary. It’s good for groups or luggage, and when Kakao T keeps searching.
What a late-night ride costs in Seoul
Regular taxis (중형택시) run on a meter set by the city. As of October 2026:
| Time | Base fare (first 1.6 km) | Then |
|---|---|---|
| 04:00 to 22:00 | ₩4,800 | ₩100 per 131 m or per 30 seconds in slow traffic |
| 22:00 to 23:00 and 02:00 to 04:00 (+20%) | ₩5,800 | ₩120 per 131 m or 30 seconds |
| 23:00 to 02:00 (+40%) | ₩6,700 | ₩140 per 131 m or 30 seconds |
Leaving Seoul adds a 20% out-of-city surcharge (시계외 할증), and night plus out-of-city can reach 60% in total. App call fees and tolls are extra.
An 8 km ride with clear roads, meter only:
At 3 p.m.: ₩4,800 + 48 × ₩100 = about ₩9,600.
At 1 a.m.: ₩6,700 + 48 × ₩140 = about ₩13,400.
Traffic, call fees and flexible pricing in the app can change this.
Taxi types
| Type | Korean | How to spot it | Seoul fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 일반, 중형택시 | Orange, white, silver or gray sedans | ₩4,800 base, night surcharge 20 to 40% |
| Deluxe | 모범택시 | Usually black, marked 모범 or Deluxe | ₩7,000 for the first 3 km; 20% extra from 22:00 to 04:00 |
| Large | 대형승용 | Larger sedans and SUVs | Same meter as deluxe |
| Vans and premium | Kakao T Venti, i.M, TADA Next, Kakao T Black, Uber Black | Booked through apps | Their own fares, often with flexible pricing (0.7 to 4 times) |
| International Taxi | 외국인관광택시 | Booked by phone or online; drivers speak a foreign language | Meter fare, with up to 20% foreigner surcharge allowed; fixed fares to Incheon Airport |
Deluxe and large taxis cost more, but drivers tend to have long clean records and the cars are bigger. At peak night hours they’re sometimes easier to get.
Hailing on the street
You can still flag a taxi. The red light on the dashboard or roof reading 빈차 means “empty.” A taxi with the light off, or showing 예약 (reserved), won’t stop. Wave from the curb, or wait at a marked taxi stand (택시 승강장).
Most taxis take Korean and many foreign cards, T-money and cash. Have a card ready.
Standing in the crowd on the main road, waving at every car while three apps search at once.
Walk five minutes away from the hotspot, then call. Or wait at a taxi stand, where cars line up. Book a deluxe taxi if regular ones keep passing.
Refusing a passenger (승차거부) is against the rules. If it happens in Seoul, note the plate number and time, and report it to the Dasan Call Center at 120.
Backup: Seoul’s night buses
When the subway stops, Seoul runs night buses with route numbers starting with N (심야버스, N버스). As of 2025, the city ran 14 routes from about 23:10 to 06:00, with a fare of ₩2,500. Naver Map and Kakao Map show them in transit directions, so check before you give up on getting home. Other cities have fewer late-night options; see public transport.
Staying safe
- Check the car. In an app ride, match the plate number and car model before you get in.
- Sit in the back and wear your seatbelt. It’s required in every seat.
- Share your trip. Send the ride details to a friend in KakaoTalk, or use the app’s sharing option where it has one.
- Keep the receipt or the app record. Lost something? Your trip history shows the car, which makes finding it much easier. Seoul’s 120 can also help.
- Something wrong? In an emergency, call 112. See our list of helplines.
Can't explain where you're going? Call 1330, Korea's 24-hour travel hotline. An interpreter can talk to the driver for you.
What to say to the driver
| You want | Say |
|---|---|
| Please go to (place) | (place)으로 가 주세요 (… euro ga juseyo) |
| Please stop here | 여기서 세워 주세요 (yeogiseo sewo juseyo) |
| Just past the crossing, please | 횡단보도 지나서 세워 주세요 |
| I’ll pay by card | 카드로 할게요 (kadeuro halgeyo) |
| Can I have a receipt? | 영수증 주세요 (yeongsujeung juseyo) |
| Could you open the trunk? | 트렁크 좀 열어 주세요 |
The easiest way: show the driver the destination in Korean on Naver Map, or use the app so the address is already in the system.
Common questions
Why does Kakao T keep searching and never find a car?
Late at night in nightlife areas, demand far outruns cars. Walk a few blocks away, try a higher-priced option (Blue, deluxe or a van), or switch apps. Calling from a quieter street often works within minutes.
Can I pay in cash?
Yes, in metered taxis. App rides set to automatic payment charge your card; Uber also has an in-person payment option.
How much is a taxi from Incheon Airport to Seoul?
Regular taxis run on the meter plus tolls. International Taxis have fixed fares by Seoul district, from ₩70,000 (Gangseo) to ₩95,000 for a regular car, and ₩100,000 to ₩140,000 for a large or deluxe car, tolls included.
Is it safe to take a taxi alone at night?
Generally yes. Korean taxis are licensed and app rides are logged. Use the same common sense you would anywhere: check the plate, share your trip and sit in the back.
Taxi apps are only part of it. See our guide to essential apps for living in Korea.
Sources: Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul taxi fares (updated October 2026); Seoul Metropolitan Government media hub on N buses (July 2025); Kakao Mobility k.ride announcements (2024, 2025); Uber Seoul taxi page and help center; KED Global and Asia Economy on TADA’s English and foreign-card support.
Written from the laws and official notices in force on the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so check with the office named in the article before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.