How to Check a Seoul Taxi Fare
Start with the taxi type and fare plan. A regular Seoul taxi uses a meter, with distance and slow-traffic charges and possible surcharges. Check the official fare table, distinguish meter fare from tolls and read the fields on your receipt.
Korean names and phrases to show or search
- Receipt, please 영수증 주세요
- Please use the meter 미터기 켜 주세요
- Meter fare 미터 요금
- Toll fee 통행료
- Late-night surcharge 심야 할증
What the meter adds up
A regular taxi starts with a base fare covering an initial distance. Beyond that, distance charges apply; time charges also apply in slow traffic. Compare journeys with the same taxi type and surcharge conditions: a shorter journey is not always cheaper.
Seoul’s official fare page describes meter charging and separately approved fare plans. For a quoted fixed price, check which service and fare plan it covers before choosing the ride.
The amounts below come from the Seoul Metropolitan Government fare decision in effect since 1 February 2023. Fares can change by a new city decision, so check the official page before a long ride.
Official fare
Regular taxi base fare 중형택시 기본요금
KRW 4,800 / first 1.6 km
Seoul · Any passenger · Meter fare, card or cash · Regular (mid-size) taxi in Seoul, daytime · After the base distance: KRW 100 per 131 m; time charges of KRW 100 per 30 seconds also apply below 15.72 km/h
Effective 2023-02-01 · Observed 2026-10-21 · Checked 2026-10-21
Prices change. Check the menu, ticket screen or receipt before you pay.
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government
Check the current fare on the official pageVerified detail
Regular taxi surcharges 중형택시 할증
+20% 10–11 PM and 2–4 AM · +40% 11 PM–2 AM · +20% outside Seoul / added to the meter fare
Seoul · Regular (mid-size) taxi in Seoul
Effective 2023-02-01 · Observed 2026-10-21 · Checked 2026-10-21
Details can change. Check the official page before you rely on them.
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government
Check the current details on the official pageOther fare components to check
- Late-night surcharge from 10 PM to 4 AM, higher between 11 PM and 2 AM (see the card above)
- An out-of-city surcharge may apply; special rules cover some shared operating areas, including airport journeys. Check the official rules for your route.
- Tolls, at the actual amount, when the taxi uses a toll road
- Larger taxis (SUV, van, deluxe) and app-booked brand taxis use their own fare tables, and some apps use flexible rates
- International taxis, a separate service for visitors, add their own surcharge and use fixed section fares by district between Incheon Airport and Seoul
Check the receipt
Ask for a receipt before you get out. Seoul’s January 2026 notice describes improvements made with T-money Mobility: English fare and journey times, surcharge indicators and a complaint contact. This does not confirm the same receipt layout on every payment terminal. Keep the receipt even if it is Korean only.
Compare the receipt total with the meter and any separately listed toll. The receipt and official fare page help you identify the components; an estimate from a map app is not a guarantee of the final meter fare.
Some taxi apps for visitors show an itemised estimate before the ride, with the meter fare and toll fee listed separately. Keep a screenshot.
Official help contacts
This guide explains published fare components and receipt fields. Official services handle complaints; this site does not assess legal claims or decide whether a refund is owed.