According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's English taxi page, a regular Seoul taxi starts at ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km during the day. After that the meter adds ₩100 every 131 m, and ₩100 every 30 seconds when the car is crawling. At night the base fare rises in three steps: ₩5,800 from 10 PM, ₩6,700 from 11 PM to 2 AM, and back to ₩5,800 from 2 AM to 4 AM.
Those are the sedan figures from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's English taxi page, in a table marked "as of 4 AM on Feb. 1, 2023". We read the page on 12 October 2026. The page as a whole carries an older label, "Information as of 21 Feb, 2017", so we go by the date printed on the fare table itself. Everything below is taken from that page; where it does not say something, we tell you.
How much is a taxi in Seoul during the day?
The Seoul Metropolitan Government's page splits regular taxis into two kinds: the ordinary sedan taxi, and SUV, van and deluxe taxis, which are larger and cost more. Both tables carry the same date.
| Daytime | Sedan taxi | SUV, van and deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Base fare | ₩4,800 up to 1.6 km | ₩7,000 up to 3.0 km |
| Distance fare | ₩100 per 131 m | ₩200 per 151 m |
| Time fare | ₩100 per 30 seconds | ₩200 per 36 seconds |
| Night base fare | ₩5,800 or ₩6,700 (by hour) | ₩8,400 up to 3.0 km |
The time fare is how the meter charges for traffic. For a sedan, the page says distance and time are calculated together in part when the car is moving below 15.72 km/h. In plain terms: in a traffic jam the meter keeps ticking even when you are barely moving. For SUV, van and deluxe taxis the rule is different — the page says the meter counts distance only at or above 15.10 km/h and time only below it.
The final fare is rounded to the ₩10 unit, according to the page.
What is the late-night taxi surcharge in Seoul?
This is where most of the confusion comes from, because the sedan rate changes three times overnight, as the Seoul Metropolitan Government's page shows.
| Sedan, time of night | Surcharge | Base fare (1.6 km) | Per 131 m | Per 30 seconds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 PM – 11 PM | 20% | ₩5,800 | ₩120 | ₩120 |
| 11 PM – 2 AM | 40% | ₩6,700 | ₩140 | ₩140 |
| 2 AM – 4 AM | 20% | ₩5,800 | ₩120 | ₩120 |
So, by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's table, the most expensive window is 11 PM to 2 AM, when a sedan costs 40% more than the day rate. The larger SUV, van and deluxe taxis are simpler: the page lists one late-night surcharge of 20% from 10 PM to 4 AM, with a night base fare of ₩8,400.
What a ride works out to, roughly
The Seoul Metropolitan Government's page publishes the rules, not trip prices, so here is the arithmetic. These are our estimates from the published rates, counting distance only. Any time spent below 15.72 km/h adds time charges on top, so a slow ride costs more than this.
| Sedan trip | How it works out | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| 5 km, daytime | ₩4,800 + about 26 steps of 131 m at ₩100 | about ₩7,400 |
| 10 km, daytime | ₩4,800 + about 64 steps at ₩100 | about ₩11,200 |
| 10 km, between 11 PM and 2 AM | ₩6,700 + about 64 steps at ₩140 | about ₩15,700 |
The last row is 40% above the second, which matches the surcharge the Seoul Metropolitan Government's page lists for that window. That is a useful sanity check: if a late-night meter reads far more than 1.4 times what the same trip costs by day, something else is being added.
Is there an extra charge for leaving Seoul?
Yes. The Seoul Metropolitan Government's page lists a 20% surcharge outside city limits, and for late-night rides outside city limits a combined surcharge of up to 60% for sedans (up to 40% for SUV, van and deluxe taxis). It says the 20% applies automatically once the taxi drives into areas outside the city after leaving it, and names the Gwangmyeong and Wirye areas as examples. For the Incheon Joint Business Area it says the standards are different and gives an inquiry number, 02-2133-2317.
Tolls are separate: the page says the actual toll amount is collected when the taxi goes through a toll road at the passenger's request.
How much is a taxi from Incheon Airport to Seoul?
The Seoul Metropolitan Government's page prints a table of section fares between Incheon Airport and Seoul, by district zone. It appears directly under a block headed "International taxi fares".
| Zone | Seoul districts | Sedan | SUV, van, deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Gangseo | ₩70,000 | ₩100,000 |
| B | Yangcheon, Guro, Yeongdeungpo, Mapo, Eunpyeong, Seodaemun | ₩75,000 | ₩110,000 |
| C | Geumcheon, Gwanak, Dongjak, Yongsan, Jung, Jongno | ₩85,000 | ₩120,000 |
| D | Seocho, Gangnam, Seongdong, Dongdaemun, Seongbuk, Gangbuk | ₩90,000 | ₩130,000 |
| E | Songpa, Gangdong, Gwangjin, Jungnang, Nowon, Dobong | ₩95,000 | ₩140,000 |
Read this table with care. Because it sits under the International taxi block, it reads as the fixed fare for that service. The page does not say whether an ordinary metered taxi from the airport will cost the same, and it does not print a metered airport fare at all. The section-fare table also carries no date of its own. We are reporting what is printed, not promising you that price from any taxi rank.
What the "International taxi" block says
The block is short. The Seoul Metropolitan Government's page states that the metered fare is the same as the sedan or SUV/van/deluxe fare, that "International passengers: 20% surcharge", and that for sedans the international, late-night and outside-city surcharges can stack to up to 60% in total. The page does not explain how to book this service or how it differs from hailing a regular taxi, and we are not going to fill that gap with guesses.
Are app taxis like Kakao Black or Uber priced differently?
Yes. The Seoul Metropolitan Government's page lists "brand taxis" with their own rates, and it notes that these operators report their own fares and can apply discounts and surcharges based on supply and demand. A few examples from the table:
- Kakao Black: ₩6,000 base with no included distance, ₩100 per 71.4 m, ₩100 per 15 seconds, flexible rates of 0.7–4.0 times.
- Uber Black: ₩8,000 base with no included distance, ₩100 per 71.4 m, ₩100 per 12 seconds, flexible rates of 0.8–4.0 times.
- i.M: ₩5,500 up to 0.75 km, with a call fee of up to ₩3,000; flexible rates apply to in-app calls only.
The "flexible rates" line is the important one: an app taxi can quote you up to four times its normal rate at busy times. A regular metered sedan has no such multiplier on this page.
Must Seoul taxis use the meter?
The page is direct about this: all taxis must charge only by the meter, and drivers who do not face administrative action for unfair charging. The one exception it gives is a separate fare plan approved by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. If a driver offers a flat price for a city ride, that rule is the one to know.
Checklist before taking a taxi in Seoul
These points use the Seoul Metropolitan Government's published taxi rates, as read on 12 October 2026.
- Daytime sedan: expect ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km, then ₩100 per 131 m.
- Leaving after 11 PM? That is the 40% window until 2 AM.
- Check whether you are in a sedan or a larger SUV/van/deluxe taxi — the base fare is ₩7,000 instead of ₩4,800.
- Going outside Seoul city limits adds 20%; tolls are paid on top.
- App taxis can apply flexible multipliers; the meter on a regular sedan cannot.
- Every taxi must run the meter unless it is on a city-approved fare plan.
Tipping. The official page does not mention it.
Sources and how to check
- Sedan and SUV/van/deluxe fares, night rates, surcharges, rounding, brand-taxi rates, the International taxi block, airport section fares, charter fares and the meter rule — Seoul Metropolitan Government, Taxi: https://english.seoul.go.kr/policy/transportation/modes-of-transport/taxi/ . Sedan and SUV/van/deluxe tables "as of 4 AM on Feb. 1, 2023". The airport section-fare and charter tables carry no date of their own.
- Trip estimates in the "roughly" table are our arithmetic from the published rates, distance only.
- Related guides: Seoul subway fare, T-money card, how much cash you can bring to Korea.
Page read and figures copied on 12 October 2026.
Questions readers ask about Seoul Taxi Fare in 2026
What is the base taxi fare in Seoul?
₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km in a regular sedan taxi during the day, then ₩100 per 131 m and ₩100 per 30 seconds in slow traffic. SUV, van and deluxe taxis start at ₩7,000 for 3.0 km. Table dated 1 February 2023, read on 12 October 2026.
When does the late-night surcharge start?
At 10 PM. For sedans it is 20% from 10 PM to 11 PM, 40% from 11 PM to 2 AM and 20% from 2 AM to 4 AM, with night base fares of ₩5,800, ₩6,700 and ₩5,800. SUV, van and deluxe taxis add 20% from 10 PM to 4 AM.
Is there a surcharge for leaving Seoul?
Yes, 20% outside city limits, and up to 60% combined for sedans late at night outside city limits. Tolls are paid on top at the actual amount.
Do Seoul taxis have to use the meter?
Yes. The page says all taxis must charge only by the meter, except under a separate fare plan approved by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Are Kakao Black and Uber Black more expensive?
Their base fares are higher (₩6,000 and ₩8,000 with no included distance) and they can apply flexible rates up to 4.0 times. Brand-taxi operators report their own fares, according to the page.