Common scams in Korea: taxis, fake sites, cult recruiters, and how to react

Korea is safe, but a few traps target visitors: overcharging taxis, fake K-ETA sites, street recruiters. How to spot them and what to do.

Updated 26 October 2026 · Dari team · 2 min read

Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)

Korea is a safe country for travellers. Scams still exist, and they often look alike. Here are the most common ones and the right reaction.

1. The overcharging taxi

It is the best-known tourist complaint. In a hidden-camera test, The Korea Times was quoted ₩80,000 to ₩90,000 plus a ₩10,000 toll for a taxi from Incheon, twice the map apps' estimate¹. In May 2026, a tourist paid ₩690,800 for a trip of about ₩70,000 to the airport: the driver made him pay an extra amount on the in-car terminal although the ride was booked through an app. He later got a refund².

The right reaction:

• take a taxi from the official rank or through an app, and refuse a "flat" price announced out loud;
• if the ride is booked through an app, do not pay a second amount on the car's terminal;
• keep evidence (app screenshot, receipt): refunds go through the app and your bank²;
• in Seoul taxis, a QR code lets you report a problem in several languages².

2. Fake official sites

Sites imitating K-ETA charge up to 20 times the official ₩10,000 price⁴. The only site is k-eta.go.kr (or the official app). The same caution applies to the e-Arrival Card, which is free.

3. Cult recruiters in the street

They often work in pairs, speak polished English and start with a harmless question: directions, a "survey", a student project, a book club. Some talk about your "energy" and offer a paid ceremony in a private flat. You meet them at Exit 9 of Hongik University Station, in Sinchon and Gangnam, and more and more on dating and language-exchange apps³.

The right reaction: say no without apologising ("됐어요", dwaesseoyo, "no thanks") and keep walking. If they follow you, go into a shop³.

4. Market prices

Good news: at Gwangjang Market, the Korea Times test found no vendor without displayed prices, and complaints have dropped sharply. Seoul City sends mystery shoppers¹. Still check the price before ordering.

If in doubt

Paste the message or describe the situation in Dari's "Scam?" tool, which helps you spot warning signs. In an emergency, call 112 (police).

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a taxi that overcharged me?

In Seoul taxis, scan the QR code displayed in the car to report in several languages. Keep the receipt and app screenshots².

What should I do if someone approaches me for a "survey"?

Refuse politely but firmly and keep walking: it is the classic approach of cult recruiters³.

Sources

1. The Korea Times, « Are tourists still being scammed in Korea? We went to find out » (06/03/2025) · checked on 26 October 2026
2. The Star, « A US$450 taxi fare sparks fresh concerns over tourist scams in South Korea » (03/07/2026) · checked on 26 October 2026
3. Korea Experience, « Korean Cult Recruitment 2026: How to Spot and Avoid Scams » (08/02/2026) · checked on 26 October 2026
4. Gouvernement de la République de Corée (MOFA), avis sur les faux sites K-ETA · checked on 26 October 2026