Shared Bikes and E-Scooters in Seoul for Foreign Visitors

Recognize the service before scanning its QR code

At Ttareungi station 332, on the south side of Euljiro 2-ga Intersection, the sign gives you two useful details before you touch a bike: the station number and the time allowed for each rental. Both are easy to overlook when you are looking for a QR code.

The bikes and scooters pictured here belong to different services: Ttareungi, Kakao T, SOCAR elecle and KICKGOING. They may stand close together on the pavement, but a pass for one service does not unlock the others.

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What you are renting	License requirement	What to check before starting
Ttareungi pedal bicycle	No driving license	Tourist pass, bike condition and a Ttareungi return station
Private electric bicycle	Depends on the vehicle’s legal classification	Exact operator, pedal-assist or throttle operation, account, payment and return area
Shared electric scooter	A license valid for this vehicle in Korea	License verification, helmet, permitted route and return area

A basket or a pair of pedals is not enough to settle the license question. Korean law treats an electric bicycle as a bicycle when it assists pedaling, cannot move on motor power alone, cuts motor assistance at 25 km/h and above, and weighs under 30 kg including its equipment. Motor-only operation falls outside that definition. Check the model’s description rather than guessing from its shape. Vehicle definitions: Easy Law.

Rent Ttareungi through the tourist option

You will need mobile data, a charged phone, access to your email and an overseas-issued credit card. Bring a helmet too. The tourist checkout excludes children under 13. Download the app before you head out, leaving time to sort out registration or payment if needed.

1. Open the tourist purchase route

Get the official 서울자전거 따릉이 app for Android or iPhone. Seoul’s published app instructions identify the tourist entry as Foreigner. This avoids starting Korean member registration. Seoul’s app instructions.

You can also open the official English website, open its menu and choose Purchase. The current English purchase form has an email field and no visible Korean phone-number or Korean-ID field. If the website will not load, try the app’s Foreigner entry. Keep the app available for renting the bike.

Each rider needs their own pass. The tourist route requires an overseas-issued credit card and limits purchases to one pass per card; the form also warns against duplicate payments to the same email address. Two travelers should prepare separate cards and email addresses. If you live in Korea and use a Korean-issued card, check which member or non-member route fits your circumstances. Operator FAQ.

2. Choose between an hourly daily pass and the All day pass

The English tourist purchase screen offers four products. One day Pass and All day · 24h have different limits:

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Tourist purchase option	Price	When you need to return
One day Pass · 1h	₩1,000	Within 60 minutes on each rental
One day Pass · 2h	₩2,000	Within 120 minutes on each rental
One day Pass · 3h	₩3,000	Within 180 minutes on each rental
All day · 24h	₩5,000	Within 24 hours; no intermediate return required

For the 1-, 2- and 3-hour daily passes, the pass remains valid for 24 hours from the first rental, but each ride must finish within its own allowance. You can rent again after a successful return. The All day · 24h product is the exception: the operator’s terms allow up to 24 hours without returning midway. Overtime is ₩200 per five minutes beyond the applicable allowance. English purchase guidance and operator terms.

For example, a one-hour daily pass first used at 10:00 AM remains valid until 10:00 AM the next day, but the first bike still needs to be returned by 11:00 AM to avoid overtime. A stop for coffee does not pause the rental. Choose a longer allowance if returning within an hour would make the outing feel rushed.

3. Enter your email and keep the rental code

On the English website, read the purchase guidance and select Purchase a Pass. The form opens with All day · 24h selected. If you want a 1-, 2- or 3-hour daily pass, change Classification of vouchers and check the price before continuing.

Select Credit card, then enter your email in the two boxes on either side of @. For [email protected], the first box is alex and the second is example.com. Read the payment, overtime and refund terms before proceeding to the payment provider.

After payment, save the rental code sent by email. Seoul’s app instructions say to enter that code when you already have a pass; the website also provides Check rental number. If no confirmation arrives, check spam and the transaction status before trying another purchase.

If you own a Discover Seoul Pass, the tourist purchase guidance lists an All-Day bike benefit at no extra cost; follow its redemption conditions. The tourist short-term Climate Card does not include Ttareungi. See the transport-card comparison.

4. Find the return station, then unlock the bike

Look at the official bike map for a rental station near your destination, then choose a route you can comfortably ride. An entrance that is easy to reach on foot may involve stairs with a bicycle. For a first outing, a short route with a clear cycle path and a straightforward return is more manageable than crossing an unfamiliar junction to save a few minutes.

At the bike, check tire pressure, brakes and chain, and adjust the saddle. Tap Rent in the app and scan the QR code under the saddle, above the rear wheel. If scanning fails, the operator’s instructions also allow bike-number entry. Wait for the lock to release before moving the bike. English rental instructions.

5. Return the bicycle and check the completed rental

Take Ttareungi back to an official Ttareungi station and park it in the station area. On the QR bike, push the locking lever above the rear wheel all the way down, then check the app’s return confirmation. Walk away once the rental is shown as complete. A nearby private bike or an ordinary street rack is not a Ttareungi return point. Operator return guidance.

The basket card distinguishes a return from a temporary lock. Locking away from a station can leave the rental active and the time counting. If the return does not complete, keep the bike number, station number, locking time and a screenshot. The help section below includes options for a phone with no voice plan.

Check private e-bike accounts and prices separately

The yellow bike pictured here belongs to Kakao T; the blue one belongs to SOCAR elecle. Both use their own accounts, prices and return areas. A Ttareungi pass will not unlock either bike, so set up the relevant account before you head out to find one.

Kakao T Bike lists support for overseas cards. The visitor registration and payment routes for elecle and KICKGOING are still unconfirmed. Ask those operators about your phone number and card before making a rental part of your plans.

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Service	Korean phone number or Korean ID	Overseas-issued card	English access
Ttareungi tourist checkout	Email purchase form; no Korean phone or ID field shown	Overseas credit card required; one pass per card	English website checked; some Korean labels remain
Kakao T Bike	Tourist phone and identity-verification route not verified	VISA, Mastercard, JCB and AMEX credit/debit cards listed by the operator	Bike rental flow not verified in English
SOCAR elecle	Tourist phone and identity-verification route not verified	Not verified	Rental flow not verified in English
KICKGOING	Own-name phone and payment method required by its terms; tourist verification route not verified	Not verified	Rental flow not verified in English

Kakao T Bike’s official payment FAQ lists the four card brands in the table. Once your account is set up, try registering your card before you need to ride; your particular card may still fail to register. Scooter rentals involve a separate license check. KICKGOING’s terms require identity verification and approval of your license for scooters.

When you select a bike, look at its battery level, start fee, time charge and return area. If registration stops at a Korean mobile identity check, an ordinary tourist SIM may not solve the problem. See what a Korean phone number can and cannot do.

Kakao Mobility says bike rates can vary with local operations and that scooter rates follow the partner operator’s policy, shown on the selected vehicle’s screen. Its scooter help page also warns that some return locations attract an additional charge. Read that map before setting off, especially for a trip across a service boundary. Kakao’s fare terms and bike and scooter help.

The SOCAR elecle tag advertises a three-month pass with a daily ten-minute allowance. Its “₩33 per minute” headline belongs to that subscription offer. For a short visit, look up the single-rental price in the app; if you are considering a subscription, read the total cost and renewal conditions. SOCAR elecle.

E-scooters need a license and a helmet

The mint-colored vehicle in the photograph is a KICKGOING scooter. In Korea, “kickboard” commonly refers to this type of standing electric scooter. KICKGOING’s safety guidance requires a driving license for its scooters. KICKGOING.

Korea requires at least a motorized-bicycle license, or a higher qualifying driving license, for these personal mobility vehicles. The minimum age for obtaining the motorized-bicycle license is 16; an operator can impose stricter rental eligibility. A helmet is required, and a standing e-scooter is for one rider. Easy Law: requirements before riding.

If you intend to use an overseas license or International Driving Permit, settle two questions before making a scooter part of your plans:

• Legal entitlement: does your document authorize this vehicle in Korea? Start with the official English foreign-license guidance, or ask KoROAD, Korea’s driving-license authority, about a standing electric scooter specifically.
• Rental access: can the operator register your documents and complete its visitor identity checks? Ask its support team: “Can I register an International Driving Permit issued in [country], with category [category], to rent your electric scooters? What phone and identity documents do you require?”

Check both your driving entitlement and the operator’s registration process, even if you hold a car license at home. If either is unclear, choose a pedal bike. The 1330 online help service below can help you find the right agency or explain your question.

Use permitted cycle routes where provided, obey local restriction signs and keep off ordinary pedestrian sidewalks. Where there is no cycle route, the general road rule places these vehicles at the right-hand edge of the road. If that means mixing with traffic beyond your confidence, choose another way to travel. Easy Law: permitted roads.

At an ordinary pedestrian crossing, dismount and walk the vehicle across. Easy Law: crossing and riding rules.

Seoul’s scooter-free street guidance identifies designated sections of Hongdae Red Road in Mapo and the Banpo academy area in Seocho, with restrictions from noon to 11:00 PM. Use the official street map and local signs to check the exact sections and current restrictions. These are designated segments, not a ban across the whole of either neighborhood. Do not assume every cycle path or park admits every motorized vehicle. Never ride after drinking. Easy Law: prohibited riding behavior.

Finish in an allowed return area and leave entrances, bus stops, tactile paving and pedestrian routes clear. Complete the operator’s end-ride procedure and check that the timer stops. If a parking photo is requested, take it before leaving. Included insurance can still exclude certain injuries or riding circumstances, so read the coverage and exclusions before renting.

When payment or return fails

The Ttareungi tourist purchase will not go through: check the tourist route, overseas credit card and email address. The checkout limits one pass per card and warns against duplicate email payments. Look for a rental code or confirmation in email and spam before buying again. If a charge appears without a usable code, save the transaction details and contact the operator.

A private app stops at a Korean identity check: look for its documented visitor route or ask support. A phone number that receives SMS can still fail a subscriber identity check. If there is no route that fits your documents, use Ttareungi’s tourist option or public transport.

The Ttareungi bike is locked but the rental is still running: confirm the station number on the operator’s map, push the locking lever fully down and check again. Keep the bike number, station number, time and a screenshot. Call 1599-0120 promptly if you can make voice calls. The tourist purchase guidance directs users needing interpretation to the 120 Dasan multi-party call service at 02-120.

A Kakao T Bike smart lock is closed but the timer continues: its FAQ provides an emergency end-rental route under 긴급상황 (Emergency) → 잠금장치 고장 (Lock malfunction) → 긴급종료 (Emergency end). Use this only for the stated malfunction: it disables the bike for the next rider. For help, open 내 정보 (My info) → 서비스 문의 (Service inquiry) → 바이크 (Bike); type 상담원 연결 to request an agent if needed. Kakao T Bike help.

Help when your phone has no voice plan

Open the Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 help page and choose 1330 Messenger for online chat without downloading an app. The page also lists an internet voice-call option. Ask for travel information or help explaining the rental problem; the bike operator still needs to handle the active rental or disputed charge.

For a written return query, fill in this message and attach the relevant screenshot:

My Ttareungi bike is parked and locked at station [station number], but the rental still shows as active. Bike number: [number]. Locking time: [date and time]. Please confirm when the rental ended and review any additional charge. I have attached the app screen.

There is no safe route or you cannot confirm scooter eligibility: take a Seoul bus or use the taxi guide.

Korean phrases for rental help

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Korean	English
외국인 이용권은 어디에서 구매하나요?	Where can I buy a pass for foreign visitors?
해외 발급 신용카드로 결제할 수 있나요?	Can I pay with a credit card issued overseas?
이 자전거는 페달 보조 방식인가요?	Is this bicycle a pedal-assist model?
반납이 완료됐는지 확인해 주세요.	Please check whether the return is complete.
반납했는데 이용 시간이 계속 올라가요.	I returned it, but the rental timer is still running.

Before your first ride

Choose the service, locate its return point and check the route while you are still standing still. Put your phone away once you start riding. If you need help setting up directions, use NAVER Map in English.

Your next task

Keep untangling your Korea trip

Check directions and a manageable return route before riding; retain a bus or taxi alternative.

Next guide How to Use NAVER Map in English Set NAVER Map to English, find the correct Korean place, compare public-transport routes, and keep a route screenshot that still helps if… Next guide How to Ride a Seoul Bus as a Foreigner Find the correct Seoul bus and direction, tap a supported transport card on and off, protect the transfer, and recover safely from… Next guide How to Call a Taxi in Korea as a Foreigner Compare k.ride, Uber Taxi, Kakao T and designated taxi stands without mixing their account, payment, fare or pickup rules.

Official sources

Official information checked October 6, 2026. The six photographs were taken on October 1 and 5; the three website screenshots were captured on October 6 from the English tourist purchase form and the official 1330 page. No payment or help request was submitted. App entry instructions follow Seoul’s published 2023 guide; the app itself, card authorization, unlocking, completed returns and overseas-license registration have not been independently tested.

• Seoul Facilities Corporation — foreign-tourist pass and card requirements
• Seoul Metropolitan Government — tourist app instructions
• Ttareungi — English tourist purchase guidance
• Ttareungi — English rental and temporary-lock instructions
• Ttareungi — terms defining the foreign-visitor All day pass
• Ttareungi — current standard fare table
• Ttareungi — QR-bike rental instructions
• Seoul Facilities Corporation — return procedure and safety
• Kakao Mobility — selected-vehicle prices
• Kakao Mobility — bike overseas-card support and rental troubleshooting
• Kakao Mobility — scooter license and return-zone help
• SOCAR elecle — official service website
• KICKGOING — operator safety guidance
• KICKGOING — account and license-verification terms
• Easy Law — bicycle and electric-bicycle definitions
• Easy Law — scooter license, age, helmet and rider limit
• Easy Law — permitted roads
• Easy Law — pedestrian crossings and riding rules
• Easy Law — prohibited riding behavior
• Seoul Metropolitan Government — scooter-free street guidance
• Easy Law — foreign-driver licensing guidance in English
• Korea Tourism Organization — 1330 online chat and internet voice calls

Change log

• 2026-10-06 — Initial official-source draft with six user-supplied photographs captured October 1 and 5.
• 2026-10-06 — Revised after visitor-usability audit: current tourist purchase form, four pass options, one web screenshot, Kakao T Bike overseas-card support, operator comparison, no-voice-plan help and scooter document checks. No completed rental, payment, return transaction or license verification is documented.
• 2026-10-06 — Edited repeated caveats into direct instructions and shortened captions. Added genuine official-site captures of the default All day selection and 1330 online chat menu; no payment or help request submitted.