© Thomas Roger Lux・Unsplash License

South Korea

Busan

Korea's second city, famous for its beaches and film festival. The metro runs from the seaside to the hot springs.

Ride-hailing & taxis (택시)

Korea has no private ride-hailing - Kakao T and Uber both dispatch licensed taxis on the city-set meter. The 20-30% night surcharge and the 30% out-of-city supplement are official rates, not tricks.

Updated on August 20, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Book a taxi in an app
    Kakao T is the app Koreans use most. Uber operates in Busan too, so your home app works as-is.
  2. 2
    Hail one on the street
    Look for the 빈차 (vacant) sign in the windshield, then put your hand up.
  3. 3
    Show the destination in Korean
    Drivers rarely speak English - show the Korean name on a map app, or use the app's translated chat.
  4. 4
    Pay
    Pay cash or card as you get out; in the apps you can charge a registered card instead.

Typical costs

How the meter adds up4

Regular taxi flagfall (first 2 km)
Then KRW 100 per 132 m, or per 33 s in slow traffic. Unchanged since the June 2023 revision.
4,800 KRW ≈ $4
Regular taxi flagfall (night surcharge)
Plus 20% from 11pm to 4am and 30% from midnight to 2am; distance and time charges rise the same way.
5,760〜6,240 KRW ≈ $4–5
Deluxe & jumbo taxi flagfall (first 3 km)
Then KRW 200 per 140 m, or per 33 s in slow traffic. The black premium tier.
7,500 KRW ≈ $6
Uber Speed Call service fee
Included in the quoted price. The electric Green option carries a 1,000 won service fee.
3,000 KRW ≈ $2

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Card payment on board
No official source says whether overseas-issued cards work
The operator does not name the brands it accepts
Paid on the terminal inside the car as you get out
IC card Unverified
On board: No official source says whether a transit card can pay a taxi fare
App tickets
In the wallet: A card registered in the app is charged automatically
Cash
On board: Hand it to the driver when you get out

Quick facts

Hours
24 hours
Fares from
4,800 KRW+

Heads-up

  • 30% on the stretch outside the city

    In a regular cab, crossing the Busan city limits adds 30% to the fare for the distance driven beyond the boundary - not to the whole fare from where you got in. Gimhae town, Yangsan and Ulsan all count, and combined with the night surcharge it reaches 40-50%. All of it is set by the city and none of it is a scam. Agree on the destination before you set off and there is no surprise at the end.

  • Do not get in with a driver who touts for you

    Skip any driver who touts for your business and use an official stand or an app instead - the apps quote a price before you book, which gives you a reference. In a street taxi, check that the meter is running and that the surcharge display matches where you are going before the car moves.

Timetable

Operating hours 24 hours
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka