In Korea, there are active services that allow you to rent transportation such as bicycles and kickboards. They are useful for short distances or when public transportation is difficult to use, and they are also gaining attention as an eco-friendly means of transportation. We introduce 따릉이(Ttareungi), GCOO, and Kakao T bike, which are representative bicycle rental services in Korea.
따릉이(Ttareungi) is a bicycle rental service operated by Seoul City, and is the cheapest and easiest to use. There are bicycle storage facilities all over Seoul, so you can easily rent and return bicycles. The price is also very cheap at 1,000 won per hour. Please install through the link below.
따릉이(Ttareungi) has 1-hour, 2-hour, and full-day passes. You can use it within 24 hours for the duration of the pass, and you can rent and return it multiple times. If you purchase a 1-hour pass, you can use it 6 times for 10 minutes each, or 3 times for 30 minutes, 20 minutes, and 10 minutes. This is a very economical service as you can freely rent and return it within the usage period. In addition to hourly passes, we also sell full-day passes. If you want to use 따릉이(Ttareungi) for more than 5 hours or if you want to use it freely without time restrictions, you can use 따릉이(Ttareungi) for 24 hours with the full-day pass.
| Ticket | price |
| 1 hour pass | 1000 won |
| 2 hour pass | 2000 won |
| All day pass | 5000 won |
The 따릉이(Ttareungi) app provides a service that foreigners can use without having to go through the membership registration process. Click on the 'Foreigner' button shown in the picture. Then, click on the 'Map' button to see the map. The numbers on the screen are the location of the rental station and the current number of bicycles.
First, I will tell you how to change the language. The languages provided in the 따릉이(Ttareungi) app are English, Japanese, and Chinese. You can change the language by pressing the menu button and then pressing the gear button in the upper right corner.
To use 따릉이(Ttareungi), you must first purchase a ticket. First, click the 'Purchase' button. The notification window that appears is a notice prohibiting drunk driving. You cannot use 따릉이(Ttareungi) or a bicycle while intoxicated. Click the 'Close' button to move to the next screen.
Select the pass you want to purchase. From the left, 1 hour, 2 hours, and full-day passes. Then, enter your email address, click the Agree button, and proceed with payment. You will receive the voucher code via email so please enter it accurately.
If you purchased a ticket, you can check the code via email. After checking the code, press the 'Purchase' button again. This time, press the button shown in the picture and enter the ticket code.
You can now rent a 따릉이(Ttareungi). Refer to the map in the 따릉이(Ttareungi) app to find a rental location. Once you’ve found a rental location, you’ll need to find the bike’s QR code. Usually, the QR code is located under the saddle.
Now, tap the 'Rent' button on the app screen. Scan the QR code found on the bike.
After scanning, please wait a moment and the lock will be unlocked and your rental will be completed.
따릉이(Ttareungi) Returns must be made to the rental office. It doesn't have to be the rental location where you rented it; you can return it at any 따릉이(Ttareungi) rental location.
The return process is simple. Just press the lock with your hand as shown in the picture. If you want to rent it again later, just visit the rental station again and scan the QR code again. It doesn't matter if it's not the same bike.
There are bicycle paths along the Han River in Seoul, and Hangang Parks are built in various places. It is a great place for various leisure activities, as it is one of the representative infrastructure welfare of Seoul citizens. If you visit Seoul, I recommend going on a trip to Hangang Park with 따릉이(Ttareungi) at least once. In particular, riding a bicycle while looking at the night view of Hangang will give you a refreshing feeling that you have never felt before.
GCOO is the bicycle rental service in Korea with the largest service area and foreigners can also join. What is unique is that it rents out electric bicycles and electric kickboards. There is a speed limit, so it is not as fast as you might think, but it is more convenient to use than a regular bicycle. Please install it through the link below.
GCOO is also a rental method that scans a QR code like 따릉이(Ttareungi). If you have used 따릉이(Ttareungi), it will be easy to use. However, there is no separate return location, and you can rent and return it in a safe place on the side of the road.
Also, the payment method is different from 따릉이(Ttareungi). Since it is a postpaid plan, you must register a payment method in advance. There are time-based and distance-based plans. The exact rates vary by region, but the approximate rates are summarized below. If you calculate the approximate rate, it is about 9,000 won per hour. Electric kickboards are slightly more expensive than electric bicycles.
| Rate Plan | Rate per minute | Per mile rate |
| Time rate system | 150 won/minute | X |
| Distance priority rate system | 30 won/minute | 60 won/0.1km |
When using GCOO, there is also a cost for GCOO Care. It is similar to car insurance, and it is insurance for expenses such as bicycle damage, and the more expensive the rate, the lower the deductible. The price is around 600~1600 won, and in the case of the highest rate, the repair cost is exempted. GCOO Care is a one-time payment that does not require payment for 12 hours, and is valid for 12 hours even if you rent and return it multiple times.
Kakao T bike is a bicycle rental service that can be found mainly in large cities including the metropolitan area. It rents out electric bicycles and has the advantage of being easy to use on the Kakao T app. Kakao T is an app that provides various services such as taxis and designated drivers, so it can be used conveniently in Korea. Please install it through the link below.
Kakao T bike can be used through the Kakao T app and requires a Kakao ID. Since you can use various services if you have a Kakao ID in Korea, we recommend that you sign up for membership. The rental method is the same as GCOO, using a QR code scan, and you can rent and return it on the street without a separate rental station.
Kakao T bike uses an hourly rate system, and charges a basic rate plus a per-minute rate. It varies slightly by region, but the basic rate is around 500 to 800 and the per-minute rate is around 100 to 150 won. Converted to 1 hour, it is around 6,000 to 9,000 won.
We have looked into various bicycle rental services such as 따릉이(Ttareungi), GCOO, and Kakao T bike. We have compared each service in the table below, so please choose the service you want and have a pleasant trip. In Korea, there are various bicycle rental services other than the services we have introduced. Since most of them have similar usage methods, you will be able to use other apps without difficulty.
| App name | Available Areas | Rental items | charge |
| 따릉이(Ttareungi) | seoul | bicycle | 1000 won per hour |
| GCOO | Some areas nationwide | Electric bicycle, kickboard | Basic rate + per minute rate, distance priority rate |
| Kakao T bike | Some areas nationwide | General, electric bicycle | Basic rate + per minute rate |