Kakao T, K.ride, TABA or Uber: which taxi app should a foreigner use in Korea?
With a foreign phone number and card, K.ride, TABA and Uber work without any Korean sign-up. Kakao T is still possible if you pay the driver. The 2026 comparison.
Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)
Contents
In Korea, taxis are mostly booked through apps. The best known, Kakao T, is not the easiest for a visitor. Here are the four options and what each one needs.
K.ride: Kakao's app for foreigners
K.ride is the foreigner-friendly app of Kakao Mobility, the company behind Kakao T1.
- It works with a foreign phone number and a foreign bank card1.
- Sign in with Google, Apple or Line1.
- Messages to the driver are translated into Korean automatically1.
- It has worked across Korea since 2025, including Busan and Jeju1.
TABA: the app backed by Seoul City
- Foreign numbers and cards accepted1.
- In English, Japanese and Chinese1.
- Strong in central Seoul (Jongno, Gangnam, Hongdae), slower in the suburbs and at night. It is expanding to Busan and Jeju in 20261.
Uber: your usual account works
- Your Uber account and usual card work, with no new sign-up2.
- Uber calls the same taxis as Kakao T, at the same regulated base fare2.
- The fleet is smaller: "no cars available" happens in the rain, late at night in Gangnam or in the countryside. In Busan, Uber is less common but works2.
Kakao T: possible, with a trick
- You need a Kakao account verified by phone: a Korean number may be required2.
- Registering a foreign card in the app often fails2.
- The trick: choose a regular taxi and the "pay to driver" option, then pay by card or cash in the car. Blue and Black services usually require a registered card2.
In short
| Your situation | Easiest app |
|---|---|
| Tourist with a foreign number | K.ride or TABA1 |
| You already use Uber | Uber, with another app as backup2 |
| You have a Korean number | Kakao T, with "pay to driver" if your card is refused2 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Kakao T without a Korean number?
It is hard: you need a Kakao account verified by phone2. K.ride, from the same company, accepts a foreign number1.
Does Uber work in Korea?
Yes, with your usual account and foreign card, but with fewer cars than Kakao T, especially at night and in the rain2.
Sources
- Korea Experience, « TABA Taxi and k.ride » (11/03/2026) · checked on 26 October 2026
- Korea Experience, « Taxi apps in Korea: Kakao vs Uber » (31/01/2026, mis à jour le 08/02/2026) · checked on 26 October 2026