Seoul taxi fare overcharge complaints by foreigners exceed 6,000 in five years

Key facts

• Over 6,000 complaints of taxi fare overcharging by foreigners were filed in Seoul over five years.
• Only 3.1% of these complaints resulted in administrative measures.
• 28 drivers faced license suspension or cancellation.
• 4,368 cases were closed internally due to verification difficulties or withdrawn complaints.

The number of complaints submitted by foreigners regarding alleged taxi fare overcharges in Seoul over the past five years has exceeded 6,000, with corrective measures taken in only about 3% of these cases, according to a lawmaker. The total number of reports from 2021 to August 2026 reached 6,481. Of these, administrative actions were applied to only 204 cases. Drivers faced license suspension or cancellation in 28 instances, while 176 received warnings. Over 67% of the cases were closed internally due to challenges in verifying overcharges or the withdrawal of complaints by the reporting individuals. A policy introduced in 2013 allows foreigners to claim up to 500,000 won in compensation if their report leads to administrative action, but it has seen little use due to a lack of public awareness and a complex application process.