πŸš– What to Say in a Taxi in Korea: Essential Phrases & App Tips – Beginner Level (TOPIK 1–2)

What to Say in a Taxi in Korea: Essential Phrases & App Tips | Beginner Korean (TOPIK 1–2)

νƒμ‹œ 일러슀트


Taking a taxi in Korea for the first time?


 This guide covers basic Korean phrases to use with taxi drivers, plus tips on using Kakao T and other transportation apps to make your ride smoother—perfect for beginner learners and travelers.


πŸ“š Table of Contents



πŸ—£ Basic Taxi Phrases

  • νƒμ‹œ 타고 μ‹Άμ–΄μš”. (Taeksi tago sipeoyo) – I want to take a taxi.
  • 이 μ£Όμ†Œλ‘œ κ°€ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. (I juso-ro ga juseyo) – Please go to this address.
  • κ³΅ν•­κΉŒμ§€ μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ κ±Έλ €μš”? (Gonghang-kka-ji eolmana geollyeoyo?) – How long does it take to the airport?
  • μ—¬κΈ°μ—μ„œ λ‚΄λ € μ£Όμ„Έμš”. (Yeogi-eseo naeryeo juseyo) – Please drop me off here.
  • μΉ΄λ“œ λΌμš”? (Kadeu dwaeyo?) – Can I pay by card?

Tip: Show the driver the address on your phone if pronunciation is difficult.



πŸ›£ How to Give Directions

  • μ™Όμͺ½μœΌλ‘œ κ°€ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – Please turn left.
  • 였λ₯Έμͺ½μœΌλ‘œ κ°€ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – Please turn right.
  • 직진해 μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – Please go straight.
  • μ‹ ν˜Έλ“±μ—μ„œ 멈좰 μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – Please stop at the traffic light.

πŸ’‘ Note: These phrases are useful when the driver asks for clarification or when your destination is hard to find.



πŸ“± Using Kakao T and Other Apps

Kakao T is Korea’s most popular taxi app, available in English and Korean.

  1. Download from Google Play or App Store.
  2. Sign up with your phone number (international numbers are supported).
  3. Enter your destination and confirm pickup location.
  4. Choose payment method (card, cash, or Kakao Pay).
  5. Track your taxi in real-time and see fare estimates before riding.

Other Apps: T Map Taxi, UT (Uber + T Map), and NAVER Map also offer taxi services in Korea, but Kakao T is the most widely used by locals and foreigners alike.



πŸ’¬ Example Sentences

  • κΉ€ν¬κ³΅ν•­κΉŒμ§€ κ°€ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – Please take me to Gimpo Airport.
  • 이 ν˜Έν…” μ•žμ—μ„œ λ‚΄λ € μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – Please drop me off in front of this hotel.
  • μΉ΄λ“œλ‘œ κ²°μ œν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš”? – Can I pay by card?
  • μΉ΄μΉ΄μ˜€νƒμ‹œλ‘œ λΆˆλ €μ–΄μš”. – I called it through Kakao Taxi.

🧩 Quick Check: How would you ask “How much is the fare?” in Korean?



πŸ—£ Practice Dialogue

A: 이 μ£Όμ†Œλ‘œ κ°€ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. Please go to this address.

B: λ„€, μΉ΄λ“œλ‘œ κ²°μ œν•˜μ‹€ κ±°μ˜ˆμš”? Yes, will you pay by card?

A: λ„€, μΉ΄λ“œλ‘œ ν• κ²Œμš”. Yes, I’ll pay by card.

B: μΉ΄μΉ΄μ˜€νƒμ‹œλ‘œ λΆ€λ₯΄μ…¨λ‚˜μš”? Did you call through Kakao Taxi?

A: λ„€, λ§žμ•„μš”. κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. Yes, that’s right. Thank you.

🧩 Quick Check: Can you modify this dialogue to say you want to pay in cash instead of card?



🌏 Did You Know?

Did you know? In Korea, taxis are generally safe and affordable. Most taxis accept credit cards and even foreign debit cards. Also, black taxis (λͺ¨λ²”νƒμ‹œ) are premium taxis with slightly higher fares but more space and better service—great for airport trips or longer rides.



πŸ“¦ Final Thoughts

Knowing simple taxi phrases and using Kakao T makes traveling in Korea stress-free. Practice these expressions before your trip and download the app for convenience—you’ll travel like a local in no time!

We hope this guide helps you move confidently around Korea. Check back for more beginner-friendly travel Korean lessons!



πŸ”— Related Posts



πŸŽ“ Want to practice real-life travel phrases in Korean?
Book a 1:1 Korean class on italki and get personalized feedback to improve your speaking confidence.


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