Seoul Taxi Overcharge Complaints by Foreign Visitors Exceed 6,000
City data cited by a lawmaker show 6,481 alleged taxi overcharge complaints from foreign passengers since 2021, while administrative action followed in only 3.1 percent of cases.
More than 6,000 complaints alleging taxi fare overcharging of foreign passengers were filed in Seoul over a period of nearly five years, but only a small share resulted in administrative measures, according to city data released by a lawmaker on Sunday.
Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong of the ruling Democratic Party said 6,481 complaints were submitted between 2021 and August 2026. Seoul authorities took administrative action in 204 cases, equivalent to 3.1 percent of the total. The figures highlight the difficulty of turning passenger reports into verified enforcement cases in one of the capital’s most visible transport services.
Among the cases that produced administrative measures, 28 led to a driver’s license being suspended or canceled. The other 176 resulted in warnings. More than two-thirds of all complaints — 4,368 cases, or over 67 percent — were closed internally because an overcharge was difficult to verify or the complainant voluntarily withdrew the report.
The data also drew attention to a compensation program that has apparently gone unused. Seoul revised its taxi overcharge complaint policy in 2013 to allow foreign passengers to apply for 500,000 won in compensation when their report leads to an administrative measure. Yet the city data showed no compensation payment had been made under the policy.
Mo attributed the program’s limited use to low public awareness and an application process that is particularly difficult for short-term visitors. Tourists may leave Korea before a complaint is resolved, adding a practical obstacle to follow-up even when they initially report a suspected overcharge.
The lawmaker called for procedures that protect complainants while also safeguarding the many taxi drivers who work honestly. Any reform would need to address both concerns: making it easier for foreign passengers to preserve evidence and remain engaged with the process, while ensuring that drivers are not penalized without adequate verification.
The figures concern complaints of alleged overcharging rather than confirmed violations. Still, the gap between the volume of reports and the number of corrective actions raises questions about whether the current system is accessible enough for overseas visitors and sufficiently equipped to determine what happened in disputed journeys. For Seoul, where taxis are often among the first public-facing services used by travelers, the effectiveness and credibility of the complaint process carries implications for consumer protection and the city’s tourism reputation.