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The current taxi, exchange, and nightlife scams by district — and the exact counter-move.
As of 2026-06-13 · 🔄 Weekly · ⭐ 4.7 (421 users)
Review was due 2026-06-20 — re-verify with official sources
Scams rotate by district and season. This is the current field guide for Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Itaewon, with the one sentence that ends each one.
ℹ️ Information is accurate as of the date shown and can change. Confirm critical steps with official sources before acting.
Taxi
- Refusing the meter / “fixed price” at tourist ranks: insist “미터기로 가주세요” (meter please) or get out. Use Kakao T so the route + fare are recorded.
- Airport: only use the official taxi queue; ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride.
Money exchange & nightlife
- Back-alley “better rate” exchange: short-counts or counterfeits. Use registered exchanges or ATMs; count before leaving the window.
- Itaewon/Hongdae “juice bar” / hostess-bar bait: a friendly stranger leads you to a bar with a hidden cover charge that explodes on the bill. If a stranger insists on a specific bar, don’t go.