Hong Kong Uber Complaints Rise in South Korea
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Recent social media complaints highlighted by Sing Tao say some Hong Kong travellers using Uber in South Korea faced disputed charges, including trips marked as started before the driver arrived and full fares deducted after passengers cancelled rides they say never properly began. Posts cited by the report describe South Korea, and Busan in particular, as a frequent trouble spot for such incidents among Hong Kong and Taiwan users. Other complaints involved drivers allegedly charging more than the taxi meter showed, and in one case a driver reportedly drove off with luggage still in the trunk, leading the passenger to call police. Users said a practical safeguard is Uber’s rider-set four-digit PIN feature, which requires the driver to enter the code before the trip can officially start
Key Points
- A Hong Kong traveller said an Uber driver in Seoul never appeared, yet the app showed the trip had already started before the passenger cancelled
- Because the system treated that Seoul booking as already in progress, the passenger was charged the full fare and later received only a small coupon worth about HK$10-plus
- Social media posts reviewed by Sing Tao described South Korea as a major Uber complaint hotspot, with Busan mentioned particularly often by affected users
- Some users said Uber taxi drivers in South Korea entered fares higher than the meter amount, creating a gap between the metered charge and app deduction
- Uber’s PIN function lets riders set a personal four-digit code, and the driver must input it before billing can officially begin
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong travellers who rely on ride-hailing abroad, the complaints point to how app-based transport can still leave passengers exposed when a driver starts or manipulates a trip before pickup. The PIN setting and receipt-checking advice offer simple steps to preserve evidence and reduce the risk of being charged for rides that were disputed or never properly taken