You open the Uber app in Seoul, the same app you use at home, and a taxi pulls up instead of someone’s own car. That isn’t a glitch. This guide explains why Uber in Korea works this way: the Korean law behind it, how Uber’s private-car service ended in 2015, and what to set up before you fly.
We checked the law, Uber’s pages, the news reports and the VISITKOREA guides listed below on October 28, 2026 (how we research).
In Seoul, the Uber app sends licensed taxis
Uber says its taxi option connects riders with licensed local taxi drivers.[1] Its Seoul page is more specific: every taxi ride you request there is operated by a fully licensed taxi driver.[2] When we checked, the ride options it listed for Seoul were all taxi options, such as a standard midsize taxi and a deluxe taxi.[2]
That may not be what you know from home. In the United States, for example, Uber lets people sign up to drive with their own car.[3] Uber also notes that its features may vary by market.[1]
Why you usually can’t hire a private car through an app in Korea
The rule to know is Article 81 of Korea’s Passenger Transport Service Act. In our translation, it says that a car that isn’t registered for commercial use may not be offered or rented out to carry passengers for payment, and that no one may arrange such rides. Payment here includes money to cover the car’s running costs.[4]
The same article lists a few exceptions. One is sharing a car during weekday rush hours, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but not on weekends or public holidays. Another covers cases such as natural disasters, emergency transport or educational trips, with approval from the local government.[4]
In our reading, the last part of that first sentence matters most for apps. A ride-hailing app arranges rides, so outside those exceptions, it may not connect you with a private driver who charges for the trip. It can connect you with a taxi, because a taxi is a licensed commercial service. In Seoul, the Uber app works as a way to call licensed taxis.[2]
How UberX ended in Korea in 2015
Uber did try private cars in Korea. The Korea Herald reported in March 2015 that Uber offered three services there: Uber Taxi, UberX, which let users book private cars, and the premium Uber Black. UberX had launched in August 2014.[5]
The paper also reported that Uber Korea shut down UberX in March 2015, amid a dispute over whether the service was legal. In an email to drivers, Uber Korea said it had decided to end UberX “to negotiate with the Seoul city government”.[5]
Later in 2015, TIME reported that South Korea had passed a bill to stop unlicensed drivers from providing taxi services.[6] We give only the year for that bill. We couldn’t match it to a specific change in the law’s text ourselves, so we don’t name a month or a clause.
What to expect when your ride arrives
Your ride will be a taxi.[2] VISITKOREA says regular taxis have yellow license plates and a roof sign that reads “TAXI”, and that deluxe taxis are usually black. It adds that most taxis charge by the meter and don’t require tips.[7]
Uber says taxis requested through its app in Seoul take up to 4 passengers. You can pay with a card saved in your Uber account, or choose its “in-person payment” option and pay the driver by cash or card at the end of the ride.[2] VISITKOREA says taxi passengers can also pay with a transportation card,[7] and our Seoul transit card guide explains how to get one.
Uber’s Seoul page says you can request a taxi 24/7, and suggests trying a different ride option in the app if no taxis are available.[2] If you’re coming from Incheon Airport, you can also take the train into the city; our guide to the two AREX trains explains them.
Uber isn’t the only option. VISITKOREA’s guide to ride-hailing apps lists other taxi apps too, including some made for foreign visitors, and some of them ask you to verify a mobile number when you sign up.[8]
Good to know
Before you fly:
- Install the Uber app, or another taxi app from VISITKOREA’s list, and sign in while you’re still at home.[8]
- Add a payment card to your account, or plan to use the in-person payment option.[2]
- If an app asks you to verify a mobile number, make sure your phone can receive texts in Korea. Our guide to Korean SIMs and eSIMs for a short trip explains when you need a Korean number.
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