You're pulling up to your stop. The driver says something about arriving, and you're not sure if you need to do anything before you get out.
It depends on how you booked.
If you used Kakao T
앱으로 자동결제 맞죠? aep-eu-ro ja-dong-gyeol-je mat-jyo? "It's auto-payment on the app, right?"
If you registered a card in Kakao T before the ride, payment processes automatically when the trip ends. You don't tap anything — it's already done.
The driver confirms:
네, 결제되셨어요. 영수증은 앱에서 확인하시면 됩니다 ne, gyeol-je-doe-syeoss-eo-yo. yeong-su-jeung-eun aep-e-seo hwag-in-ha-si-myeon doem-ni-da "Yes, all paid. You can check your receipt in the app."
Then you're free to get out.
Words to know
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 자동결제 | ja-dong-gyeol-je | Auto-payment |
| 결제됐어요 | gyeol-je-dwae-ss-eo-yo | Payment went through |
| 영수증 | yeong-su-jeung | Receipt |
| 카드로 할게요 | ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo | I'll pay by card |
| 현금으로 할게요 | hyeon-geum-eu-ro hal-ge-yo | I'll pay by cash |
| 잔돈 | jan-don | Change |
If you hailed on the street
No app, no auto-payment. The meter total shows on the screen between the front seats.
카드로 할게요 — "I'll pay by card"
The card reader is usually mounted on the center console or the back of the passenger seat. Tap or insert it yourself — the driver doesn't take it from you.
영수증 필요하세요? — "Do you need a receipt?" 괜찮아요 — "No thanks"
If you want one, say 네, 주세요. Most drivers print it on the spot.
Cash works too, but cards are simpler. Very few drivers carry much change, so if you pay cash with a large bill you may wait a moment.
Getting out
감사합니다. 안녕히 계세요! gam-sa-ham-ni-da. an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo "Thank you. Have a good one!"
안녕히 계세요 is the goodbye you say when you're the one leaving and the other person is staying. Taxi drivers hear it dozens of times a day, but saying it still lands better than just stepping out.
The doors are not automatic. Pull the handle and close it behind you — a light slam, not a gentle push.
Setting up Kakao T before you go
The app is free and works with most foreign cards. You set the destination in Korean before getting in, so there's nothing to say or pronounce in the car, and payment handles itself at the end. For first-time visitors it removes almost all the friction.
You'll need either a Korean phone number or an international number for verification. The international option works for most countries.
What to actually do
- If using Kakao T, confirm auto-payment before you get in — not at the destination
- When the driver says 다 왔습니다, that means you've arrived
- For app rides, ask 자동결제 맞죠? if you're not sure payment went through
- For street hails, tap your card at the reader and say 괜찮아요 to skip the receipt
- Say 안녕히 계세요, close the door, and you're done
Knowing which payment method you're using before you get in makes the exit a ten-second routine.
Getting around Seoul is easier than it looks once the payments are sorted. K-PATTO teaches 300+ phrases like these through a webtoon story set in Seoul, with native audio on every line. The first ten episodes are free.