The Korea Herald has published a passenger guide to Seoul taxi fares. The amounts agree with the fare table on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website, which dates the present regular and deluxe rates from 4am on 1 February 2023. Taxi fare table
On the street
The guide describes the windshield signs. "빈차" (bincha), generally in red, means the taxi is vacant. "예약" (yeyak), generally in green, means it is reserved, even when the seats are empty. A street hail can be paid in cash, by card, or with a transportation card. Where an app takes the fare automatically, that payment is the bill. Paying the driver as well would charge the journey twice.
The regular meter
From 4am to 10pm a regular Seoul taxi, the city's sedan class, starts at 4,800 won for the first 1.6 kilometres. Each further 131 metres adds 100 won. Below 15.72 kilometres per hour, 100 won is also added for every 30 seconds, so distance and time run together only under that speed. The final metered fare is taken to the 10-won unit.
Late night
The higher night base already includes the late-night surcharge.
From 10pm to 11pm, and from 2am to 4am, the base is 5,800 won for the first 1.6 kilometres, and each extra step is 120 won. From 11pm to 2am the base is 6,700 won, and each step is 140 won. The city sets the late-night surcharge at 20 per cent from 10pm to 11pm, 40 per cent from 11pm to 2am, and 20 per cent from 2am to 4am. The won figures above are those surcharged bases. The percentage is not added a second time.
Past the city boundary
A regular taxi adds 20 per cent once the journey is outside Seoul. With the late-night surcharge as well, the city puts the combined addition at up to 60 per cent. A toll is separate. The passenger pays the toll that was charged.
Incheon International Airport is a joint business area. Seoul's guidance on out-of-area work, updated on 11 March 2026, names the airport as shared by Seoul, Incheon, Gwangmyeong, Bucheon, Gimpo and Goyang. A Seoul taxi between the city and the airport does not add the boundary surcharge in either direction. The exemption covers that surcharge, not the toll. Out-of-area surcharge rules
Deluxe and international taxis
A deluxe taxi, on the same tariff as the city's SUV and van taxis, starts at 7,000 won for the first 3 kilometres from 4am to 10pm, then 200 won for each 151 metres or each 36 seconds. From 10pm to 4am the base is 8,400 won and the steps are 240 won. The city calls that night rate a 20 per cent surcharge. Outside Seoul the deluxe boundary surcharge is 20 per cent, and together with the night rate it reaches at most 40 per cent. At 15.10 kilometres per hour or more, only distance is charged. Below that speed, only time is charged.
An international taxi is metered on the sedan, SUV, van or deluxe scale for its vehicle, plus 20 per cent for an international passenger. On a sedan, that 20 per cent can combine with the night and boundary surcharges, up to 60 per cent. Between Incheon Airport and Seoul the international taxi can instead charge a zone fare. For a sedan the city lists 70,000 won for Gangseo, 75,000 won for Yangcheon, Guro, Yeongdeungpo, Mapo, Eunpyeong and Seodaemun, 85,000 won for Geumcheon, Gwanak, Dongjak, Yongsan, Jung and Jongno, 90,000 won for Seocho, Gangnam, Seongdong, Dongdaemun, Seongbuk and Gangbuk, and 95,000 won for Songpa, Gangdong, Gwangjin, Jungnang, Nowon and Dobong. The SUV, van and deluxe fares for the same zones are 100,000, 110,000, 120,000, 130,000 and 140,000 won.
The city requires the meter unless the trip is on a fare plan it has approved. Brand taxis can file their own rates. Several of those tariffs charge distance and time together and let the price move with demand, so a lower base fare is not the cost of the trip.