Bincha, yeyak, hyumu: reading a Korean taxi before you raise your hand

On a Korean street after dark, many of the taxis that pass are not available, and each one says so. The answer sits in a small lit panel behind the windscreen, on the passenger side, and it takes three words to read.

Three words behind the glass

빈차 (bincha), usually lit in red, means the car is empty and will stop for a raised hand. 예약 (yeyak) means reserved: someone has already called it through an app, and it will not pull over. 휴무 (hyumu) marks a driver on a day off. The roof lamp repeats the message from a distance, lit when the cab is free and dark when it is taken.

When every panel reads yeyak

Near Hongdae or Gangnam Station around midnight, a long run of cabs can pass with the reserved sign showing. Kakao T is the app most residents use, and Kakao's k.ride was built for visitors, with English menus and foreign cards. Enter the destination before you request, and nothing needs explaining aloud.

Door, fare, receipt

The rear door does not open by itself as it does in Japan, so pull the handle. If you hailed from the kerb, show the address in Hangul and say gisanim, i jusoro ga juseyo: driver, to this address, please.

기사님, 이 주소로 가 주세요.

Seoul's standard fare starts at 4,800 won, with a surcharge between 22:00 and 04:00. Black cars with a yellow roof lamp are 모범 (mobeom) deluxe taxis, which start at 7,000 won. Tap a card or T-money on the reader by the dashboard and take the receipt, which carries the cab's number and is the fastest way back to a phone left on the seat.