Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft do not work in South Korea; Korean ride-hailing apps do exist, but you might need a valid Korean phone number to use them. If you have a local number, download Kakao T, a popular app that's available in English.
At least the SIM cards for foreigners that you can expensively buy in the airport work. But you won't be able to pay by credit card via the app. Only option for non Koreans is pay to the taxi driver...
It will go up against Kakao Corp., which operates South Korea's largest mobility service. Uber's business in the Asian country hasn't yet proven successful, as it terminated its food delivery offering after failing to overcome the dominant position of local operator Woowa Brothers Corp.
Taxis are abundant and scandalously cheap compared to other world capitals, with the meter starting at 2,200 won and fares rarely exceeding 10,000 won for standard hops.
General TaxiThe general taxis are the cheapest and the most commonly found taxis. Most of the times, the general taxi drivers only speak Korean. If you are traveling metropolitan area, the drivers may know how to say simple English phrases. You might encounter some problem with communication.
Kakao T is South Korea's answer to Uber, and it has been quickly gaining popularity among locals and tourists alike. With its easy-to-use app and affordable rates, it's no wonder why Kakao T is becoming such a popular choice for transportation in South Korea!
It is the exact same price for a regular Taxi. If your check card is set up with Kakao Taxi (Kakao Pay), you can use the 1,000W “priority service” to “jump the queue but I don't know anyone who actually uses that. Kakao Black is the fancy car that definitely costs more.
Train (AREX)Express Trains depart every 20 to 40 minutes from Incheon Int'l Airport and take approximately 40 minutes. All Stop Trains leave every 5 to 10 minutes and take just under 60 minutes to get to Seoul Station. The Express Train costs KRW 9,500 each way, while the All Stop Train is KRW 4,150 - 4,750.
The taxi fare from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong is approximately 60,000-70,000 won (approximately 50-60 USD) for a regular taxi and up to 100,000 won (approximately 85 USD) for a deluxe taxi. However, the cost of a taxi can be significantly higher than expected because the fare is based on a meter system.
Korean taxis are quick and cheap, they will be your favourite transportation mode whenever you do not want to use Korea's amazing public transports. Well we would like to recommend the must-have application used by everyone in Korea: Kakao Taxi.