🇰🇷 South Korea · Editorial Q&A

How do tolls work for foreign drivers in South Korea (Hi-pass)?

Question

I am renting a car in Seoul and driving to Busan. The expressway tolls I read about all reference Hi-pass — is there a way to use it as a tourist?

Answer · Drive This World Editorial · reviewed 2026-05-02

Yes. Three options for paying expressway tolls as a foreign driver:

  1. Hi-pass transponder rental from the rental company — most major Korean rental agencies (KT Kumho, Lotte, SK) include a Hi-pass unit in higher-tier rental classes or rent it for a small daily fee (typically ₩1,000–2,000/day). Tolls are charged to your card automatically. Recommended for any trip beyond Seoul.
  2. Cash / card lanes (TG) — every toll plaza has a manned lane on the right side. Slow down to 30 km/h on approach. Korean toll attendants accept cash (Korean won) and most major credit cards.
  3. Drive through, pay later — if you accidentally use a Hi-pass-only lane without a transponder, you have 15 days to pay at any rest area or via the Korea Expressway Corporation website. After that, the rental company is billed and adds a service fee.

For a Seoul→Busan return trip on the Gyeongbu Expressway, total tolls are roughly ₩40,000 (~US$30) round trip in a passenger car.

Citations

  1. [1]Korea Expressway Corporation (English) — KEC