Phrases for taxis

Say ○○로 가 주세요 (○○ro ga juseyo, "Please take me to ○○"), as in 명동으로 가 주세요 (myeongdongeuro ga juseyo, "To Myeongdong, please"). If the name is hard to pronounce, show the address in Korean or a map on your phone and say 여기로 가 주세요 (yeogiro ga juseyo, "Please take me here").

Show your phone or a note and say 이 주소로 가 주세요 (i jusoro ga juseyo, "Please go to this address"). Having the address written in Korean is most accurate, since the driver can type it into the navigation system. For large buildings or hotels, just saying the name is often enough.

Say 여기서 세워 주세요 (yeogiseo sewo juseyo, "Please stop here") or 여기서 내릴게요 (yeogiseo naerilgeyo, "I'll get off here"). To stop a bit farther ahead, say 저 앞에서 세워 주세요 (jeo apeseo sewo juseyo, "Please stop up ahead"). It's best to let the driver pull over somewhere safe.

Say 트렁크 좀 열어 주세요 (teureongkeu jom yeoreo juseyo, "Please open the trunk"). If you have luggage, mention it first: 짐이 있어요 (jimi isseoyo, "I have bags"). When getting out, say 짐 좀 꺼낼게요 (jim jom kkeonaelgeyo, "I'll take out my bags") so the driver opens the trunk for you.

Ask 얼마나 걸려요? (eolmana geollyeoyo, "How long will it take?"). To ask about arrival time, say 몇 시쯤 도착해요? (myeot sijjeum dochakaeyo, "Around what time will we arrive?"). Traffic can be heavy during rush hour, so leave extra time if you have a flight or appointment.

Most Korean taxis accept cards. Say 카드로 할게요 (kadeuro halgeyo, "I'll pay by card") when you get in or at the end of the ride. Some foreign cards may not work, so it's wise to carry a little cash. The fare is shown on the meter or in the app; check official information for current rates.

Say 에어컨 좀 켜 주세요 (eeokeon jom kyeo juseyo, "Please turn on the A/C") or 히터 좀 꺼 주세요 (hiteo jom kkeo juseyo, "Please turn off the heater"). To turn it down, ask 좀 약하게 해 주세요 (jom yakage hae juseyo). To open the window, ask 창문 좀 열어도 돼요? (changmun jom yeoreodo dwaeyo, "May I open the window?").

Say 천천히 가 주세요 (cheoncheonhi ga juseyo, "Please drive slowly"). If you feel carsick or have fragile luggage, a polite request is usually honored. If you're in a hurry, you can say 조금 급해요 (jogeum geupaeyo, "I'm in a bit of a hurry"), but avoid pressuring the driver in ways that compromise safety.

A taxi stand is 택시 승강장 (taeksi seunggangjang). Train stations, airports and large hotels have stands where taxis line up. Ask 택시 어디서 타요? (taeksi eodiseo tayo, "Where do I get a taxi?") to find one. On the street, you can also raise your hand to flag down an available taxi.

Many taxis display a red light reading 빈차 (bincha, "vacant") on the windshield or roof when they're free. If it says 예약 (yeyak, reserved) or 휴무 (humu, off duty), it won't stop for you. Many people now use taxi-hailing apps, so if empty taxis are hard to find on the street, try one of the apps.

You'll often see 출발지 (chulbalji, pickup point), 도착지 (dochakji, destination), 호출 (hochul, call) and 배차 완료 (baecha wallyo, driver assigned). The driver may call and ask 어디 계세요? (eodi gyeseyo, "Where are you?"), so be ready to name a nearby building. Foreign-language support differs by app, so check first.

Yes, Korean taxis typically add a late-night surcharge called 심야 할증 (simya haljeung). The hours and rates vary by region and can change, so check official information. The meter usually shows when the surcharge is applied, and you can ask the driver 할증 있어요? (haljeung isseoyo, "Is there a surcharge?").

A 모범택시 (mobeomtaeksi) is a deluxe taxi with higher fares than a regular taxi in exchange for more experienced drivers and better vehicles. In Seoul they are usually black with gold stripes, though looks can vary by region. They're marked 모범 (mobeom) on the roof sign or side. Check official information for fare differences, and look at the sign before getting in.

Try 다음 신호에서 오른쪽으로 가 주세요 (daeum sinhoeseo oreunjjogeuro ga juseyo, "Turn right at the next light"), 여기서 유턴해 주세요 (yeogiseo yuteonhae juseyo, "Make a U-turn here") or 쭉 가 주세요 (jjuk ga juseyo, "Go straight"). Pointing helps too. Most drivers use navigation, so giving the address is usually easiest.

Say 길 건너편에 내려 주세요 (gil geonneopyeone naeryeo juseyo, "Please drop me on the other side of the road"). Traffic rules may make a U-turn difficult, so the driver might suggest 여기서 건너가시면 돼요 ("You can cross from here"). Asking to stop near a crosswalk lets you cross safely.

If you pay in cash and don't want change, say 거스름돈은 괜찮아요 (geoseureumdoneun gwaenchanayo, "It's okay, keep the change"). Since Korea doesn't have a tipping culture, there's no need to do this. When you receive your change, a simple 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is perfect.

Yes. Korean law requires seatbelts in all seats, including the back seat of taxis. The driver may remind you with 안전벨트 매 주세요 (anjeonbelteu mae juseyo, "Please fasten your seatbelt"). When getting out, check for traffic and exit on the sidewalk side for safety.

Seoul runs a taxi service for foreign tourists with drivers who can communicate in other languages, and it offers multilingual information and booking. You can also ask at airport counters or tourist information desks. In other regions, check separately whether a similar service exists. Operating details can change, so check official tourism information before your trip.

If you paid by card, the payment record can help trace the taxi, so keep your receipt. You can report lost items at a police station or on the national police's Police Civil Service 24 (경찰민원24), which took over the LOST112 lost-and-found service in January 2026. If you hailed the taxi through an app, you may be able to contact the driver through your ride history.

Say 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, "Thank you") or 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo, "Keep up the good work"). Before stepping out, make sure you have all your belongings. The driver will usually reply 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo, "Goodbye"). A short greeting like this ends the ride on a pleasant note.