# Only 3% of Foreign Tourists' Taxi Overcharge Reports Led to Sanctions in Seoul

- URL: https://hallyu-brief.vercel.app/en/news/seoul-taxi-overcharge-reports-few-sanctions-unused-reward-41388b
- Published: 2026-10-17T21:27:13.894Z
- Publisher: Hallyu Brief

> Seoul has received more than 6,000 reports of unfair taxi fares from foreign tourists since 2021, but only about 3% resulted in administrative sanctions.

## Key points

1. Of 6,481 reports from 2021 to August 2026, 204 led to sanctions.
2. The 500,000-won reward has not been claimed or paid even once.
3. Seoul's two recent announcements did not mention the reward.

## What did the data show?

According to data that Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong (Democratic Party) obtained from the Seoul city government and presented on October 18, 2026, the city received 6,481 reports of unfair taxi fares from foreign tourists between 2021 and August 2026. Only 204 of them, or 3.1%, led to administrative sanctions. Most sanctions were warnings (176), with 26 driver license suspensions and 2 revocations.

| Outcome | Cases | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative sanction | 204 | 3.1% |
| Caution or guidance education | 1,865 | 28.8% |
| Closed by Seoul without sanction | 4,368 | 67.4% |

Note that the shares overlap slightly in the source data, so treat the percentages as approximate.

## Why are so few reports sanctioned?

The largest group of closed reports, 3,253 cases, was classified as 'other.' Cancelled reports (762) and reports judged to be misidentifications (271) also made up a large share. The 'other' category rose from 38.8% of reports in 2023 to 56.2% in 2025 and 60.7% as of August 2026, according to the data.

## Is there a reward for reporting?

Seoul amended its ordinance in 2013 to pay a 500,000-won reward when a report leads to a sanction. Despite 204 sanctioned cases, no reward has been applied for or paid. Rep. Mo said foreign tourists were not told about the reward and that the application process is difficult for visitors who leave Korea quickly.

## What has Seoul done to encourage reports?

In August 2025 Seoul announced a crackdown on illegal activity by foreign taxi drivers. In January 2026 it announced that taxi receipts would include English and introduced a multilingual QR reporting system. The city placed reporting stickers on 71,000 taxis and promoted the process through foreign-language websites and social media. Neither announcement mentioned the reward. An English reply sent on October 7, 2026 to a foreign complainant also left it out.

## For international fans

This story is mainly for foreign visitors who take taxis in Seoul. If you think you were overcharged, the city says it can take reports through the QR system and the 120 Dasan Call Center. Officials also noted that Seoul does not have the power to order fare refunds.

## FAQ

### How many foreign tourists have reported taxi overcharges in Seoul?

According to Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong's data, Seoul received 6,481 such reports from 2021 through August 2026.

### Can I get 500,000 won for reporting an overcharge?

Seoul's ordinance allows a 500,000-won reward when a report leads to an administrative sanction, but according to the data no reward has been applied for or paid so far.

### Can Seoul refund my taxi fare?

Seoul officials said the city does not have the authority to order fare refunds, so you should contact the 120 Dasan Call Center to report an overcharge.

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261017045800004)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._