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Transportation
Taxi driver claims the meter is broken
A common tactic reported by Seoul city enforcement: the driver says the meter is broken partway through the ride, then charges a flat rate far above what the metered fare would have been.
How to avoid it: Insist on the meter, or use the Kakao T app instead of hailing on the street — the app shows the fare upfront and records the trip. Report incidents via Seoul's foreign-visitor taxi complaint QR or call 1330.
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Transportation
Refused rides or deliberately long routes
Drivers refusing short or inconvenient trips (illegal in Korea), or taking an unnecessarily long route to inflate the metered fare.
How to avoid it: Ride refusal is illegal in Korea — note the taxi number and report it. Following your live location on a map app during the ride helps you notice an unusual detour early.
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Currency Exchange
Rigged calculator at a currency exchange booth
A staff member shows you a calculator display to "confirm" the exchange amount, but the number shown is quietly different from what you actually receive.
How to avoid it: Count the cash yourself before leaving the counter, and use a licensed exchange booth (look for a registration certificate posted at the counter) or your bank/travel card instead.
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Currency Exchange
Short-counted cash handoff
While counting out bills in front of you, one or more notes are quietly slipped out of the stack before it's handed over.
How to avoid it: Recount the cash yourself immediately, bill by bill, before walking away — don't rely on the staff's count alone.
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Nightlife
"Free entry" club touts, then a forced bill
Street touts (especially around Hongdae/Itaewon) invite foreign visitors in with "free entry," then block the exit and demand payment for drinks/table charges when you try to leave.
How to avoid it: Be skeptical of street touts offering free entry, especially if they physically guide you inside. Agree on any cover charge or minimum spend in writing/photo before entering, and know that blocking your exit over payment is itself illegal — you can call 112 (police) or 1330.
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Nightlife
Karaoke room "companion" upsell
Some late-night karaoke rooms pressure customers into paying for a hostess/companion service that wasn't clearly disclosed up front, at a steep additional cost.
How to avoid it: Ask for a full price list before entering, and decline any add-on service that wasn't agreed to upfront — you're not obligated to pay for anything you didn't order.
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Restaurants
No visible menu prices, then an inflated bill
A restaurant with no prices posted or handed out charges foreign customers noticeably more than what locals pay for the same dish at the next table.
How to avoid it: If there's no visible menu with prices, ask to see one — or check prices before sitting down. Seoul's expanding "real-name stall" system requires visible pricing at more small vendors now, so a shop refusing to show prices is itself a red flag.
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Other
PC bang charging foreigners a different rate
Some internet cafes (PC bang) aren't transparent about hourly rates with foreign customers, who may end up paying several times the posted local rate.
How to avoid it: Confirm the hourly rate and any card/deposit system at the counter before sitting down, and ask for a printed receipt.
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Shopping
Unpriced souvenirs marked up on the spot
Street stalls without price tags may quote foreign-looking customers a higher price than they'd quote a local for the same item.
How to avoid it: Ask the price before picking up an item, and compare a couple of nearby stalls selling the same thing — genuine markets have real price variation, but a big gap from stall to stall is a sign to just walk to the next one.
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Lodging
Surprise surcharge at check-in
A guesthouse or motel quotes one price online, then claims a "cleaning fee," "extra guest fee," or similar surcharge at check-in that wasn't part of the original booking.
How to avoid it: Keep a screenshot of the original booking price/terms, and politely but firmly point to it if a surprise fee comes up. Booking platforms (not paying cash directly to an unlisted host) give you a dispute path if this happens.
FairFare