In 2024, I climbed Hallasan via the Seongpanak trail.
I came down around 8 or 9 in the evening. When a descent runs late, people are carried down on the rail laid along the trail, but that day the rail was already being used for an injured hiker, so I had to walk. Hallasan at night was truly dark. There were no streetlights, so I made my way down anxiously, relying on my phone's light.
The real problem came after I got down. I couldn't get a taxi. Call taxis don't operate in that area, and even when I set my lodging, Nanta Hotel, as the destination on Kakao Taxi, nobody responded. Well, who would be at Seongpanak in the middle of the night?
In the end, I got back to the hotel by Kakao Taxi. I came up with the method thanks to my experience working in the mobility industry. I hope it helps someone.
Call Kakao Taxi with your lodging as the pickup point and the Seongpanak entrance as the destination
By the way its algorithm works, Kakao Taxi looks for cars near the pickup point. There are no taxis around Seongpanak, so the call never gets accepted.
If you do it the other way around, with your lodging as the pickup point and the Seongpanak entrance as the destination, a taxi will accept. Once one does, call the driver and say, "Something came up and I need to swap the pickup and the destination. I'll pay the extra fare," and they'll come get you.