Paid Membership “Uber One” to Launch in Early September
Earn Up to 10% in Ride Credits for 4,900 KRW per Month
Kakao T Unveils Paid Plan at Same Price
Real-Time Ride Tracking for Teens with New Teen Account Service
Uber Taxi is set to launch its subscription-based membership service, “Uber One,” in Korea, following its rollout in global markets. Uber One is a paid membership plan that offers benefits such as Uber Taxi fare credits and priority dispatch. The move is seen as a direct response to Kakao Mobility’s monthly subscription service, “Kakao T Members,” which is scheduled for official launch on August 27 and currently dominates the domestic taxi app market.
Song Jinwoo, Head of Uber Taxi Korea, stated at a press conference held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on August 26, “We aim to create a turning point for Uber in the Korean market by offering passengers more choices and providing drivers with new income opportunities through our services.”
Song Jinwoo, Head of Uber Taxi Korea, is making a presentation at a press conference held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th. Photo by Uber
Uber One is Uber’s subscription-based membership service. Members can earn up to 10% of their Uber Taxi fare as Uber One credits, which can be used for their next ride. For Uber Taxi’s affiliated services, including Uber Taxi, Speed Call, Uber Black, and Standard Taxi XL, members receive 10% credits. For Standard Taxi, Premium Taxi, and Green services, 5% credits are given. The monthly subscription fee is 4,900 KRW, and an annual subscription is available for 49,000 KRW, offering approximately 17% savings. Uber One will be introduced sequentially across regions following a pilot period, with full rollout expected by early next month.
Meanwhile, Kakao Mobility announced the official launch of its paid monthly subscription service, “Kakao T Members,” the previous day. Kakao T Members is divided into “Mobility Plus,” focused on taxi services, and “My Car Plus,” for vehicle owners. The Mobility Plus plan is priced at 4,900 KRW per month, the same as Uber One.
Uber Taxi Korea also unveiled a new service specifically for teenagers, called the “Uber Teen Child Account.” Launching on August 29, this service allows teenagers to request taxis using an account linked to their parents, who can then monitor their child’s ride in real time via the Uber app. The service will first be available in Seoul, Incheon, Seongnam, Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, Busan, and Jeju, with plans for nationwide expansion.
Given its focus on teenagers, safety is a top priority. Only top-rated drivers will be dispatched for rides requested through the Teen Child Account. Safety features such as PIN verification and direct 112 emergency calling via the app are mandatory. PIN verification, exclusive to Uber Taxi in Korea, allows passengers to confirm they are entering the correct vehicle using a PIN code.
Uber Taxi also introduced a new taxi wrapping option to help affiliated drivers generate additional income. Drivers can attach advertisements to available space on their vehicles for extra earnings. Uber Taxi claims its commission rate is the lowest in the industry at 2.5%. The company is also improving the usability of its driver-only app based on driver feedback. Leveraging Uber’s global platform, the company has increased its airport ride volume more than twofold compared to the previous year by attracting more foreign passengers.
Dominic Taylor, Head of Uber Mobility Asia Pacific, emphasized, “Korea is one of Uber’s core markets and is experiencing rapid growth. In fact, the number of completed Uber Taxi trips in Korea-including ride requests, dispatches, and boardings-has recorded double-digit growth every year.”
Song Jinwoo added, “We will continue to introduce services tailored to the Korean market and the needs of both drivers and passengers, fulfilling our responsibility and role as a leading global mobility platform.”
Dominic Taylor, Head of Uber Mobility Asia Pacific, delivers a welcoming speech at a press conference held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th. Photo by Uber
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