As Chinese tourists return, so do underground airport vans

“Dàjiā hǎo. Qǐng gēn wǒ lái.” — “Hello, everyone. Please follow me.”

With that familiar greeting, a man in his 40s bowed deeply to eight Chinese tourists in the Terminal 1 parking lot of Incheon International Airport on June 25. He quickly loaded their suitcases into a black 11-seater van and drove off, scanning his surroundings. The license plate on the vehicle, marked with the Korean character “허” (used for rental cars), revealed a clandestine truth: this was no legal taxi service, but part of a growing network of illegal “call vans” ferrying Chinese tourists across South Korea.

With the summer travel season in full swing and a temporary visa waiver for Chinese group tours in effect through the end of 2025, these unauthorized airport shuttles are surging — operated largely by Chinese nationals using rented vans to cash in on the travel boom.

The practice mirrors unlicensed ride operations in China, where motorcycles or personal cars are often used to transport paying customers under the radar of authorities. In South Korea, using a rental vehicle to accept payment for passenger transport is illegal unless the van is licensed, registered with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and displays a distinct yellow plate. These underground operators, however, rely on ordinary white-plated vehicles — usually 11-seater Hyundai Starias or 15-seater Solatis — that blend in with the crowd.

From late June to early July, Chosun Ilbo reporters accompanied licensed Korean call van drivers as they monitored suspected illegal activity near the airport. In the International Business Complex, roughly 1.5 kilometers from the terminals, dozens of white-plate vans were spotted. The air buzzed with Chinese.

One Chinese driver initially denied any involvement. Moments later, after answering a call, he drove straight to the terminal and picked up nine tourists.

“These drivers wait just outside the airport to avoid detection and swoop in the moment flights from China land,” said Lee Dong-won, head of the Incheon Airport Call Van Cooperative.

Unauthorized vans have been observed routinely dropping off tourists in Seoul hotspots like Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, Namsan, and Euljiro. Even near clearly posted banners warning of “intensive crackdowns” — such as outside the Namsan Cable Car — illegal vans operate openly.

Unlike their legal counterparts, who charge flat, ministry-approved rates (e.g., 74,000 won to Hongdae, 80,000 won to Myeongdong or Namsan), illegal drivers and associated travel agencies often charge triple. Some Chinese travel platforms promote airport transfers priced at 200,000 won to 300,000 won— often without passengers realizing they’re using an unlicensed service.

“Many tourists only find out during a police check,” said a Seoul police officer. “They usually say they wouldn’t have boarded had they known.” For others, the appeal lies in shared language — the ease of speaking Mandarin often outweighs concerns over cost or legality.

For veteran Korean call van drivers, the consequences are immediate.“I haven’t had a single Chinese customer in months,” said Kim Nam-sik, who has worked the airport circuit for over a decade. “Even if more tourists arrive, they all go straight to the illegal vans.”

The damage extends beyond lost revenue. These vehicles lack passenger insurance. In the event of an accident, both physical injury and financial compensation become legal minefields.“These are private rentals, not commercial transport,” said attorney Lee Seung-ki. “Victims may have little to no legal recourse.”

Enforcement remains challenging. Most rides are pre-arranged via Chinese platforms like WeChat, making surveillance and sting operations difficult.

“Even when we stop them, drivers claim they’re just picking up friends or acting as unpaid guides,” said an official from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, which recently wrapped up a three-month crackdown.

But with peak tourist season underway and a diplomatic push to attract Chinese visitors back in motion, the crackdown may come too late for drivers like Kim.

“Unless the government gets serious, we’re just watching our livelihoods disappear in plain sight.”