Seoul expands phone access to taxi service for digitally vulnerable residents

In Seoul, a city renowned for its advanced digital infrastructure, residents and visitors now have the option to summon a taxi using a traditional phone call rather than a smartphone application. This change was implemented by the 120 Dasan Call Foundation, which introduced a dedicated automated route to facilitate direct connections to the 120 Companion Call Taxi center by dialing 02-120 and pressing 6 when prompted.

Since the new system went live on August 13, 4,423 calls have been successfully routed to the center by August 31. Prior to the implementation, callers were required to navigate through a counselor before being transferred, a process that has now been streamlined to enhance accessibility. During the six days leading up to the change, from August 7 to 12, the dedicated center handled 750 calls, averaging 125 per day.

Following the introduction of the new automated system, call volume increased to 948, raising the daily average to approximately 160. The 120 Companion Call Taxi service, launched by Seoul in July 2025, enables users to request a nearby taxi via phone without the need for a digital platform.