Prepare the foreign-visitor pass before choosing a Ddareungi bicycle, then check the return message before walking away. A day pass does not let you keep the same bicycle all day.
Use the foreign-visitor purchase route
The city’s instructions name the app’s “Foreigner” option. Choose a pass, enter an email address and follow the offered card-payment steps. For an existing pass, the guide describes entering the emailed code. Keep access to that email; check whether the pass appears before buying again. Acceptance of every foreign card or phone has not been tested here.
Seoul Metropolitan Government — visitor guidance
Read the limit for this rental
Overall pass validity and each rental’s time limit are separate. Read your actual pass in the app. A 60-minute rental needs return within that limit even when the day pass remains valid. The city permits repeated rentals within the pass period, with extra charges for an individual ride that overruns. A long validity date is not your ride deadline.
Seoul Metropolitan Government — visitor guidance
Choose a return station before setting off
Use the service’s station map to choose a starting station and a realistic return station. Save their names and numbers, then recheck before renting because availability changes. Scan the bicycle QR code or enter its number. Keep battery and data for rental and return checks; a saved route cannot finish the app transaction.
Seoul Metropolitan Government — visitor guidance
Verify that the rental ended
The official return sequence is to park at a rental station, pull the lock closed and check the confirmation on your smartphone. Parking alone does not prove the rental ended. If the message is missing or the app still shows a running ride, record bicycle and station numbers and contact the operating center at 1599-0120 before leaving.
Seoul Metropolitan Government — visitor guidance
Your preparation card
| Record | Your check |
|---|---|
| Pass access | Email/code and pass visible in the app |
| Current rental | Start time and individual limit |
| Return | Station name/number and nearby alternative |
| Completion | Closed lock and return confirmation |
A worked example
Hypothetical example: your pass permits 60 minutes per rental and you start at 14:10. The ride limit is 15:10. A café stop still counts. Return before the stop and check the completion message; a later ride is a new rental under the pass terms.
Official sources checked
Official sources for tourist rental and return checks checked on 12 October 2026. This describes published guidance; recheck the conditions for your visit day. Examples are hypothetical planning exercises.