A regular Seoul taxi starts at ₩6,700 from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., compared with ₩5,800 in the preceding hour. That is the 40% night-surcharge band, and the listed base fare already includes it. Do not add another 40% to ₩6,700. The Seoul government’s fare table is the reference for these amounts.
This guide covers Seoul’s regular mid-size metered taxis. Premium cars, large vans and taxis licensed elsewhere can use different tariffs. Official pages were checked October 23, 2026; these regular-taxi rates are listed as effective from February 1, 2023, rather than a new October price increase.
The four time bands to save before an evening out
All times below are local Seoul time. Each base fare covers the first 1.6km under the standard tariff; the final meter can include further distance and time charges.
| Time | Night surcharge | Listed base fare |
|---|---|---|
| 4 a.m.–10 p.m. | None | ₩4,800 |
| 10–11 p.m. | 20% | ₩5,800 |
| 11 p.m.–2 a.m. | 40% | ₩6,700 |
| 2–4 a.m. | 20% | ₩5,800 |
Use the published won amounts when comparing the starting fares. Simply multiplying ₩4,800 by 1.4 gives ₩6,720, which is not the listed ₩6,700 base fare. The tariff and meter handle the actual calculation.
The city’s English taxi guide also lists higher distance and time increments at night. The distance increment is ₩100 per 131m during daytime, ₩120 in the 20% bands and ₩140 in the 40% band. Time can contribute when traffic is slow. The higher starting fare is only one part of the difference.
Waiting until 2 a.m. reduces the base by ₩900
The arithmetic is ₩6,700 − ₩5,800 = ₩900. At 2 a.m. the night surcharge falls to 20%; the daytime rate resumes at 4 a.m. Waiting for 2 a.m. does not make the whole ride ₩900 cheaper by definition, because the trip’s other charges can also differ.
Before extending your evening for a lower rate, compare that possible saving with the wait, any extra spending and the availability of a suitable ride. If you are ready to leave at 1 a.m., staying out another hour solely to reduce the starting fare may be a poor trade. Use your actual trip estimate and circumstances.
For a planned late dinner or show, work backward from the venue’s end time. Save the hotel address, decide where you can reasonably meet a driver, and check the last usable public-transport connection if that is your preferred return. A citywide phrase such as “the last train” does not identify your particular line, direction or transfer.
Compare one complete quote for the whole group
The Korean fare page distinguishes metered fares, approved alternative tariffs, tolls and calling charges. Check the selected vehicle and what its displayed amount includes before comparing apps or transport modes.
Illustrative budget, not a route quote: if a suitable car’s estimated total is ₩24,000, three people sharing it would budget ₩8,000 each. If ₩24,000 already includes the night rate, adding 40% again would produce an incorrect ₩33,600 comparison. First establish what the quote covers; then divide the total among the passengers it can actually carry.
Use this short note while checking a ride:
- Vehicle: regular taxi, premium car or larger vehicle?
- Journey: exact pickup and destination, at the intended travel time?
- Amount: estimate, meter-based fare or confirmed total? Which extras are included?
- Capacity: can everyone and their bags fit in that vehicle?
- Payment: automatic app payment or payment to the driver?
Our Kakao T payment guide explains the final question and what to check when card registration fails. A working payment method does not establish the fare or guarantee that a driver is available.
Apply this to the return journey you will actually make
A night in Hongdae followed by a return to a nearby hotel is a different budget decision from crossing Seoul after a venue closes. When comparing a Hongdae or Itaewon pub crawl, ask where the hosted route ends before estimating the ride home.
This table is not a fixed airport-transfer quote or a quote for a journey spanning two time bands. Airport trips need their own vehicle, toll and route checks. For a late flight arrival, the Incheon night-bus comparison helps you compare a reachable bus departure with the taxi total for your group.
Save the time-band table, but make the final choice from the actual pickup, vehicle and full journey. That keeps a low starting price from becoming an unrealistic return-trip budget.