How To Get A Taxi In Korea For Foreigners - Kakao Taxi App

🚖 How to Get a Taxi in Korea for Foreigners – The Kakao T App Guide

Whether you're visiting Seoul for the first time or living in Korea long-term, there will be times when you need fast, convenient transportation — and Kakao Taxi (also known as Kakao T) is your best friend.

Forget standing in the street waving your hand for 15 minutes. With the Kakao T app, you can call a taxi to your exact location, set your destination in English, and pay easily — all without needing to speak Korean.

This is the must-have app for transportation in Korea, and we’ll show you exactly how to use it as a foreigner.

🚕 Why Use Kakao Taxi in Korea?

Taxis in Korea are:

• ✅ Affordable compared to many Western countries
• ✅ Safe and fast
• ✅ Widely available, especially in big cities like Seoul, Busan, and Incheon

But here’s why Kakao Taxi is even better than hailing a cab on the street:

🔒 Safer & More Transparent

In some countries, taxis may take longer routes to increase fares for tourists. Kakao T prevents this by:

• Showing the estimated fare before the ride
• Letting you track the route in real time
• Giving you the driver’s details before pickup

🌐 Supports English

The app interface is available in English, making it easy for non-Korean speakers to use — perfect for foreign students, digital nomads, and expats renting housing in Korea.

📲 How to Use the Kakao T App – Step-by-Step for Foreigners

Step 1. Download the application

• Available on Android and iOS 
• Make sure to allow location access for accurate pickup

Step 2. Choose the taxi

• On the home screen, tap the “Taxi” icon
• You’ll also see other options like bike rental, navigation, or parking

Step 3. Enter Your Pickup & Drop-off Locations

• Tap the address bar and enter your current location and destination
• Suggestions will appear in English, or you can copy/paste Korean addresses

Step 4. Choose Taxi Type

Kakao Taxi offers multiple vehicle options:

• General Taxi: Most affordable, standard cars
• Deluxe or Black Taxi: Higher-end vehicles with better service
• Smart Call or Request: Prioritized pickup with added fee

Step 5. Set Your Payment Method

• 💳 Online Payment (requires Korean bank account or card)
• 💵 Pay to Driver (in cash or by credit card — great for foreigners)

If you don’t have a Korean bank account, simply swipe to “Pay to driver” and select Apply.

Note: “Pay to driver” is available for General and Black taxis.

Step 6. Call the taxi

• Tap “Request Taxi”
• Once matched, you’ll see:
  • 🚘 Car model & license plate
  • 👤 Driver name
  • 📍 Estimated time of arrival

Wait at your pickup point and double-check the license plate — especially in busy areas.

💡 Useful Tips for Taking a Taxi in Korea

• Base Fare:
  • 🚗 3,800 KRW (daytime)
  • 🌙 4,600 KRW (late night: after 11 PM)
• Rounding System:
  Fares are often rounded to the nearest 100 KRW:
  • 4,040 KRW → Pay 4,000 KRW
  • 4,050 KRW → Pay 4,100 KRW
• No tipping is expected in Korea
• Don’t forget your stuff! Lost items can be hard to retrieve unless you note the driver’s info.

Need help finding housing in Seoul that’s close to public transport and taxi-friendly?
👉 Contact us — we help foreigners find furnished rentals in Seoul and beyond.

✅ We offer long-term rentals and furnished apartments with English-speaking support — perfect for students, digital nomads, and expats.

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