Walk out of almost any subway exit in Seoul and you'll see them: neon-colored electric kickboards leaning against street signs, waiting for a QR scan. In Korea, this whole category is called PM (개인형 이동장치, Personal Mobility) — a legal umbrella that covers shared e-scooters (전동킥보드, jeondong kickboard) and electric bicycles (전기자전거, jeongi jajeongeo). It looks casual. The law treats it as anything but.
This guide walks through the six operators most foreigners actually encounter, how each app works, what payment methods clear the signup wall, the license rule that quietly disqualifies most tourists, and the specific fines you'll face if you skip the rules. Numbers, not vibes.
What "PM" actually means in Korea
PM stands for Personal Mobility — a category defined under Korea's Road Traffic Act (도로교통법). To qualify as PM, a vehicle must have a maximum speed under 25 km/h (~15.5 mph) and a total weight below 30 kg (~66 lbs). Everything shared on Korean streets — the kickboards, the pedal-assist e-bikes, the seated scooters — sits inside that box.
The critical part: since May 2021, PM has been legally classified alongside mopeds (원동기장치자전거). That single reclassification is why a device that looks like a Bird scooter in Los Angeles is regulated like a small motorcycle in Seoul. Different logic, same silhouette.
The main operators: fleets and coverage
The market consolidated hard between 2022 and 2025. Lime pulled out, Beam scaled down, and a few Korean players ended up owning the streets. Here's who's still standing as of mid-2026.
| Operator | Type | Fleet (approx.) | Main coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWING (스윙) | Kickboard + e-bike + taxi hail | ~28,000+ scooters | 70+ cities nationwide — Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon, Jeju |
| Gcooter / G-Bike (지쿠터) | Kickboard (largest domestic fleet) | Largest shared kickboard operator in Korea after 2022 GUGU acquisition | Nationwide — heavy in Seoul, Gyeonggi satellite cities, and mid-tier metros |
| Kickgoing (킥고잉) | Kickboard aggregator (partners with XingXing, TMAP Bike) | 3,000+ direct + partner fleet | Seoul + major metropolitan zones |
| Alpaca (알파카) | Kickboard | Mid-size regional operator | Selected Seoul districts, university towns, secondary cities |
| Kakao T Bike (카카오T바이크) | Electric bicycle | Thousands, deployed via municipal partnerships | Songpa-gu, Nowon, Bundang, Incheon, Ulsan, and a rotating list of contracted cities |
| Ttareungyi (따릉이) | Public bicycle (city-run) + e-bike variants | 40,000+ bikes across Seoul | Seoul only — densest coverage of any bike system in Korea |
Fleet numbers shift monthly as operators redeploy hardware between cities, so treat these as a snapshot rather than gospel. If you want the current density in your neighborhood, open two or three apps side by side and check the map — that's the honest answer.
How each app works (step-by-step)
Every operator follows roughly the same pattern: download, verify, scan, ride, park. What varies is the verification wall — and that's where foreigners tend to hit friction.
SWING
Download from App Store or Google Play. Sign up with a phone number (Korean mobile numbers verify instantly; foreign numbers work for the app but sometimes not for license verification). Add a payment method. Scan the QR code on the handlebar, wait for the beep, and go. To end the ride, park inside an allowed zone (the app shows a colored overlay on the map), take the mandatory parking photo, and confirm. SWING added English signup and expanded overseas card support in 2024, making it the most foreigner-friendly of the kickboard apps.
Gcooter (G-Bike)
Similar signup flow. Requires phone verification and payment card registration. The catch: Gcooter's license verification uses Korea's PASS app or a Korean driver's license photo scan — both of which assume a Korean-issued document. Foreigners with an International Driving Permit (IDP) often can't complete the check.
Kickgoing
Kickgoing operates as a super-app now, letting you rent XingXing kickboards, TMAP Bikes, and its own scooters from one account. Signup requires phone + payment method + (for kickboards) license verification. Interface is Korean-first with limited English.
Kakao T Bike
You'll need the main Kakao T app (also used for taxis). Sign up with a Kakao account — creating one requires a Korean phone number that can receive SMS verification. In the app, tap the "Bike" tab, scan the QR on any orange Kakao bike, and ride. No license needed for e-bikes because e-bikes with pedal-assist under 25 km/h are exempt from the moped-license requirement when used privately, though PM helmet rules still technically apply.
Ttareungyi (Seoul Public Bike)
The Seoul city government's own system, and by far the most tourist-friendly option. Download the Seoul Bike or Ttareungi app, switch to the Foreigner tab (English, Chinese, Japanese available), pay with an overseas credit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB), and unlock a bike using the number pad on the dock or the app's QR scan. A 1-hour pass costs about 1,000 KRW (~$0.72 USD). If you hold a Discover Seoul Pass, 24 hours of Ttareungyi is included free.
Payment: what actually goes through
Payment is the second-most-common friction point after license verification. Here's what actually clears in each app, based on foreign-card testing in 2025–2026.
| App | Foreign credit card? | Apple Pay / Google Pay | Kakao Pay / Naver Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWING | Yes (Visa/Master/JCB, mostly reliable) | Partial | Yes |
| Gcooter | Hit-or-miss (some overseas cards rejected) | Limited | Yes |
| Kickgoing | Hit-or-miss | Limited | Yes |
| Alpaca | Limited | No | Yes |
| Kakao T Bike | Yes, if the card is registered in Kakao T | Yes (Apple Pay via Kakao T) | Yes |
| Ttareungyi | Yes — official foreigner menu | No | Yes |
Typical pricing across kickboard operators lands around a 1,000–1,200 KRW unlock fee (~$0.72–$0.87) plus 150–180 KRW per minute (~$0.11–$0.13). A 15-minute ride runs roughly 3,500–3,800 KRW (~$2.55–$2.75). E-bikes via Kakao T price similarly. Ttareungyi absolutely destroys everyone on price at 1,000 KRW per hour — no unlock fee, no per-minute charge.
The license rule (this is the big one)
Since May 13, 2021, Korea requires anyone riding an electric kickboard classified as PM to hold at least a Class 2 moped license (원동기장치자전거면허) or higher. That means either:
- A Korean-issued driver's license (Class 2 regular, Class 1, or dedicated moped license)
- A converted Korean license from your home country
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) that explicitly lists motorcycle/moped categories (Class A or A1) — a car-only IDP does not count
Reality check: most tourists arrive with a car-only IDP issued by AAA or their national equivalent. That covers rental cars. It does not cover a Korean kickboard. Riding on a car-only IDP is technically unlicensed operation for PM purposes, and enforcement has been aggressive since 2023, especially around Hongdae, Gangnam, and Yeouido.
If you're staying long-term, converting your home license into a Korean license (or getting a Korean moped license outright) opens up every PM app. For the step-by-step, see how to convert or get a Korean driver's license as a foreigner.
Electric bikes with pedal-assist (like Kakao T Bike and standard Ttareungyi) that stay under 25 km/h and don't have a throttle are legally treated as bicycles for licensing purposes — no license required. That's why they're the safest default for visitors.
Fines, penalties, and no-go zones
Korean police run periodic PM crackdowns, and the fines are standardized. Cash on the spot in serious cases.
| Violation | Fine (KRW) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Riding without a valid license | 100,000 | ~$72 |
| No helmet | 20,000 | ~$14 |
| Two people on one scooter | 40,000 | ~$29 |
| Riding on the sidewalk | 30,000 | ~$22 |
| Signal violation / illegal turn | 30,000 | ~$22 |
| Under-14 rider | 100,000 (guardian pays) | ~$72 |
| DUI (0.03%+ BAC) | Up to 100,000 + license suspension | ~$72+ |
| DUI (0.08%+ BAC) | Criminal referral, up to 3M KRW / 1 year jail | ~$2,200+ |
On top of these, expect three practical hazards worth mentioning before your first ride, especially given the broader scooter rental pitfalls guide that covers the rental-mo-ped side of the equation.
HEADS-UP Parking fines: Leaving a scooter blocking a bus stop, tactile paving, or a crosswalk can trigger a towing fee of around 40,000 KRW (~$29) automatically charged to the last rider's payment method.
HEADS-UP Helmet enforcement: Rental scooters rarely include helmets. Technically, that's still your fine to eat if stopped. Foreign residents around Yeouido have reported multiple 20,000 KRW citations during weekend crackdowns.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tourist on a K-ETA rent a kickboard?
Legally, only if the tourist holds an IDP with motorcycle/moped categories (Class A/A1). A standard car-only IDP does not qualify. For e-bikes (Kakao T Bike, Ttareungyi), no license is required — those are the tourist-friendly choice.
What if the app never asks for my license?
Some kickboard apps still let you complete signup with just a phone number and card, then check license only during a "verification prompt" later. The absence of a verification step in the app does not remove your legal obligation. If police stop you on the street, they check your license, not the app's records.
Can I use a US, UK, or Australian driver's license directly?
Not directly. Foreign licenses aren't recognized in Korea without an IDP or a formal conversion into a Korean license. For long-term residents on F-, D-, or E-series visas, converting your home license at a Driver's License Examination Office (도로교통공단) is the standard path.
Is helmet actually enforced?
Yes, though inconsistently. Enforcement spikes during periodic campaigns (usually announced by the National Police Agency, 경찰청). During those weeks, expect checkpoints near Hongdae, Gangnam, Konkuk University, and Yeouido — the 20,000 KRW helmet fine is the most-issued PM citation nationwide.
Where can I park legally?
Each app shows permitted parking zones on its map — usually shaded green. Some cities (Seoul, Busan) have introduced designated PM parking racks near subway exits. Parking on tactile paving (the yellow bumpy strips for visually impaired pedestrians) is an automatic violation regardless of city.
Can two people ride one scooter?
No. Two-up riding is a 40,000 KRW fine and is one of the specific violations Korean police target. Each rider needs their own scooter.
What happens if I have an accident?
PM operators carry limited liability insurance, but coverage for the rider is minimal in most cases. Under the Road Traffic Act, PM accidents involving injury can be treated similarly to motorcycle accidents — meaning criminal liability can attach if you were unlicensed, intoxicated, or riding in a no-ride zone. Call 112 (police) or 119 (ambulance) at the scene.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
Yes — Ttareungyi at 1,000 KRW/hour is essentially unbeatable in Seoul. For longer transit, the Seoul Climate Card unlimited-transit pass covers subway, bus, and Ttareungyi in one flat monthly fee.
Final Thought
Here's the thing nobody tells you before you hop on a mint-green kickboard outside Hongdae Station: that scooter is legally a moped in Korea. Not a bike, not a toy, not a "cute city thing." A moped. And the police treat it accordingly.
Most first-time visitors download Swing or Kickgoing, breeze through signup, and only realize their tourist visa doesn't get them past the license verification screen around scooter number three. From experience, this is where people get creative — which usually means expensive. Riding without a valid license is a 100,000 KRW (about $72 USD) fine, and if you're caught tipsy, that number climbs to 100,000 KRW plus a very awkward conversation at the station.
Heads-up on two details locals learned the hard way. First, helmets are technically mandatory, and yes, spot checks happen — especially around Yeouido and university districts. Second, "parking" a scooter in the wrong zone (bus stops, tactile paving, crosswalks) can trigger a towing fee the next rider pays. Guess who the app charges. You.
The safer play for short-term visitors is a Kakao T Bike or Ttareungyi (public bike) — no moped license, same 15-minute hop across town. Save the kickboard adventure for when you actually have your license sorted. Your wallet, your ankles, and the very patient officer at Mapo Station will all thank you.