zyxlsy

I just took a taxi from Ritz Carlton in Gangnam to ICN. The taxi driver pressed a button shortly after taking off, and a 20% icon showed on the meter. I thought that was a trick, but then I realized this must be long range surcharge.

Shortly after entering Incheon, at the intersection between 110 and 130, the driver pressed the button again at a aimed location (like he was counting seconds), but that location was still way outside ICN. After that, there were another several kilometers without the 20%.

The total was 60000 won including the toll. This total number seems right

Anyone knows how that surcharge works theoretically?

When does it apply? On which portion of the trip does it apply?

SirJman

This is the much hated Out of Seoul surcharge.

Out-of-Seoul Surcharge
On 12 October 2013, Seoul Metropolitan Government re-introduced the 20% surcharge from Seoul to adjacent cities that was eliminated in 2009.

zyxlsy

I think having this surcharge is fine. Dragging a taxi to a place one hour away deserves a surcharge.

However, most of the surcharges around the world is distance based and automatic. Having to manually click a button leaves the door of abuse open to rogue drivers.

Is the surcharge applied to the whole route, starting from the origin all the way to the destination? Why the driver I encountered turn the surcharge off for the last several kilometers?

nme7

He probably felt bad so he turned it off at the end? I must have got taken the last time I took a taxi to/from the airport. I remember the fare being around 90,000KRW.

zyxlsy

Generally speaking I think Seoul taxi is the best I've experienced in the whole world. Clean, fast, comfortable, super credit card friendly.

Two times I've taken taxis to ICN are from Jung-gu and Gangnam-gu. The total fare were just around 70000.

Did you take a Deluxe taxi or something? Black ones with yellow top signs?

We specifically asked for regular taxi at the front door of the hotels. We may looked cheap, but we just didn't find the reason to go for the "Deluxe" where "Regular" is deluxe enough.

Aventine

Some Seoul taxis are those things you said. Others are just smelly LPG cans on wheels.

zyxlsy

How do you compare Seoul taxi to HK taxi?

Aventine

Newer models of cars. Toss up about hygiene and English. Japan has them both cornered but only let down by even less knowledge of English.

AA_EXP09

For Japan I tend to write my destination in Japanese and hand the note to the driver.
(the only problem in this case is disputes if the driver tries to cheat me by taking a longer route. Fortunately this has not happened to me in Japan.)

AA_EXP09

Many surcharges are also based on time of day...

relangford

The Korea surcharge is both for after midnight and out of Seoul, both 20%. BTW, in Seoul, the "Foreigner" taxis (orange) have the language(s) spoken by the driver on the door. If not, translation is available by saying "translation" and the driver will call a speaker of that language that you can talk to on their mobile phone. I don't know why he would turn it off nearing the airport. Fare was about right amount.

As to Seoul vs. HK; I have had fewer problems in Korea than Hong Kong with taxis (I speak some Korean and Chinese, but I don't look like it) so drivers sometimes feel that can get away with indirect routing.

cardesigner2000

You get what you pay for... Japanese taxis are much more expensive than Seoul taxis. From central Tokyo to NRT will set you back a few hundred $, even HND to central Tokyo will cost US$70-100

mojo2121

I have an upcoming stay in Seoul for three nights at the Park Hyatt. I have a few somewhat related questions:

Our flight gets in late (around 10:30) - do the taxis run late around there? Is there any specific one I should look for for the long journey?

The flight out is in the AM on a Saturday. About how many hours ahead of time should I leave to account for the drive, getting through customs, etc?

Thanks much!

zyxlsy

Assume you were talking about ICN, first, I think 10:30 is not that late in Seoul. For getting into the city, just take the regular one (non-black), which offer you a reasonable price.

Secondly, I never took flights in the AM at ICN. Are you talking about 2AM or 10AM? With my afternoon experience, driving to ICN from city center takes 1.5 hours max, passing immigration and customs takes 30 minutes. If you take non-Korean airlines, I think you always need to take the train and head to the outer terminal, which adds about another 20 minutes. Leave 30 minutes for boarding, as in Korea people get their duty free after security, so it could be crowded on board and their might be some fighting for the luggage spaces.

Your AM experience might be different.

Also, getting your tax return forms stamped (just stamped, you need another half an hour to submit the forms after security and immigration) might take a while before security. Mine last time took AN HOUR!

Hope this helps.

mojo2121

Thanks for the info. So is this tax return stamping plus submittal not included in the customs time?

The flight is at 10:00AM on Sat so reading this, would heading out at 7:00AM from the Park Hyatt give me enough time?