How Foreign Travelers Can Use Taxis on Rainy Days in Korea
Collection Taxi 2026.08.11

How Foreign Travelers Can Use Taxis on Rainy Days in Korea

From choosing your pickup point and sharing your location to dealing with wet luggage, congestion, and flooding risks

On a rainy day, taxis may look convenient, but it's easy to miss your ride if the pickup pin and actual road don't match, or while you're busy organizing your umbrella and luggage. If you're a foreign traveler unfamiliar with Korea's roads and building entrances, it's essential to first identify a safe spot for the vehicle to stop before calling for one. This list outlines the flow of using taxis in rainy weather, from waiting indoors to avoiding flooded areas.

Each item represents a step in the order of checks from before departure to after getting off, rather than a ranking of recommendations. The actual situation may vary depending on the weather, location, and vehicle availability, so prioritize checking the current app screen and official guidance. If you require foreign language assistance, prepare your destination and current location in Korean, and be ready to wait indoors or change your plans rather than making unreasonable moves. It's safer to save addresses, maps, and booking information in advance so you can access them even if your data connection fails.

Choosing a Boarding Point Inside the Building

Choosing the pickup point inside the building is a step to avoid standing outside for too long in the rain by selecting a legally designated stopping area. First, look for areas with a roof like hotel lobbies or shop entrances that are easily accessible to the road. If you're not familiar with Korean, write down the building name and entrance number in Korean to send to the driver. Avoid designating bus stops, intersections, or underground passage entrances as the pickup point. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Aligning the Calling Pin with the Actual Location

Aligning the pickup pin with the actual location is a procedure to reduce inconvenience caused by GPS errors or pickups from the opposite side of the road due to the rain. First, move the map pin to the roadside in the direction the vehicle will come from and check the surrounding signs. If you're not familiar with Korean, prepare a screenshot of the map along with a picture of the visible signs. Do not blindly trust the pin and try to cross roads with medians. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Sending a Short Location Message to the Driver

Sending a short location message to the driver is a way to inform the meeting place via text when it's hard to make a phone call due to rain noise and language barriers. First, include distinct features like the entrance number and umbrella color in the app message. If you're not familiar with Korean, send both the translation and the original text to reduce the chances of misinterpretation. Avoid including lengthy tourist schedules or personal information in the message. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Confirming Vehicle Number Indoors

Checking the vehicle number indoors is a confirmation process to prevent mistakes of getting into the wrong vehicle after receiving an arrival notification in the rain. First, check the license plate, vehicle type, and color in the app, then move when the vehicle gets closer. If you're not familiar with Korean, display the last four digits of the license plate in large letters for comparison. Do not rely solely on hearing the driver's name to avoid getting into a different vehicle with a different number. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Safely Folding a Wet Umbrella

Safely folding your wet umbrella is a polite way to minimize slip hazards on the vehicle floor and seat contamination. First, avoid shaking off the moisture before getting in and instead put the umbrella into its cover or a bag. If you're not familiar with Korean and the umbrella is large, briefly ask if you can use the trunk. Do not stand outside for too long organizing your umbrella towards the road. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Loading a Wet Luggage with a Carrier

Informing about your luggage and wet items is a step to prevent a lack of space in the vehicle due to large wet luggage. First, check the number of people and luggage before calling and choose a larger vehicle option if needed. If you're not familiar with Korean, show a number or picture of the sizes and quantities of your luggage. Avoid just assuming all your luggage can fit by only looking at the number of seats. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Incorporating Rain Delays Into Your Schedule

Reflecting rainy delays in your schedule is a decision to reduce the risk of missing reservations, performances, or trains due to longer travel times than usual. First, add the drop-off and detour times to the navigation estimated time and set off earlier. If you're not familiar with Korean, show the driver your arrival deadline in Korean on your screen. Avoid asking the driver to speed or enter controlled areas. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Finding a Drop-off Area with a Roof

Finding an entrance with a roof to get off is the process of deciding where to alight near your destination to avoid being outdoors in the rain for too long again. First, designate an entrance to the hotel, station, or shopping mall that is accessible for vehicles as your destination. If you're not familiar with Korean, present the exact road name address and entrance name together. Do not expect vehicles to enter pedestrian-only paths. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Avoiding Flood-Prone Areas

Avoiding areas at risk of flooding is a safety decision to reduce the risk of traveling through underpasses, riverbanks, or low-lying areas during heavy rain. First, check the weather warnings and road control notices and choose to reroute or delay your move. If you're not familiar with Korean, inquire with the accommodation staff or call 1330 for safe alternative routes. Do not request to drive through controlled areas just because you've managed to catch a taxi. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Double-checking Wet Items and Belongings

Double-checking wet items and belongings is the final step to reduce the chances of leaving behind your phone or passport while organizing your umbrella and bag. First, check the seat, door side, and trunk in order after completing the payment. If you're not familiar with Korean, store phrases for checking your passport and phone on your lock screen in your native language. Do not rush to get out to avoid the rain, missing the recorded vehicle number. Since weather conditions, traffic control, and taxi availability can change within a short time, it's best to check the official guidance and the calling screen once more right before departure and make decisions for the next move from a safe indoor place.

Using a taxi on a rainy day is more about understanding the same entrance rather than just getting a quick pickup. Preparing the building name and address in Korean, map pin, and entrance number together increases the chances of meeting the driver, even if a phone call is difficult. Organize your wet luggage and umbrella before boarding, and if there’s a heavy rainfall warning or road closure, it’s crucial to judge whether to delay your move regardless of whether you successfully called the vehicle.

Instead of memorizing the list, it's more practical to save the necessary screens and contacts before heading out. Communicate with the driver concisely and specifically, and keep a record of the vehicle number and payment. If the weather worsens, seek assistance from your accommodation, airport, or tourist information staff and prioritize following guidance from authorities over making taxi reservations. If you have companions, decide on a meeting place and actions to take if you get disconnected.

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