Uber and other e-hail apps got the final go-ahead to operate in New York City earlier this month, but the company isn't stopping with the Big Apple. Uber this week rolled out to Seoul, Korea, and Taipei, Taiwan.

Seoul became Uber's second Asian city, following its launch in Singapore; London bronze medalist Koo Ja-Cheol was the first to ride through town in an Uber black car.

"He was excited to give Uber a try after his morning workout, on his way to a press conference in Yeoyui-Do," Uber's Chan Park wrote in a blog post. "He pulled out his phone, downloaded the Uber app, and clicked 'request'; just like that, he grabbed the Rider Zero title in Seoul!"

Meanwhile, Taipei's launch hooked two local TV personalities  Al Li Ke Si (pictured) and Lisa Wang, who caught wind of Uber's arrival and gave it a trial run.

"Hot food, hot nightlife, hot people, and now, hot transportation to match," Uber International Launcher Candice Lo wrote in a separate blog announcement. "From the real-deal night markets to Taipei 101, Uber is officially here to get you there in style."

Currently running in "stealth mode" overseas, the car service will spend the next few weeks testing its operations, meaning supply may be limited; more vehicles will be added every day, with a full fleet ready for action soon.

Both cities are offering initial discounts to early riders. In Korea, users can enter the promo code "SeoulFirst" to receive 20,000 KRW ($17.50) off their first ride; the Taiwanese code is "UBERTAIPEI," which offers a discount of NT$500 ($16.70).

For more updates as the service grows, follow Uber on Twitter in Seoul and Taipei.

Uber, meanwhile, is fighting another battle in the U.S., this time in Los Angeles, where it and fellow ridesharing services Lyft and Sidecar have vowed to operate, despite receiving cease-and-desist letters from the city's transportation department, the L.A. Times reported.

All three companies allege that they have agreements in place with the California Public Utilities Commission, allowing them to operate statewide. The letters, according to the Times, threaten to arrest drivers and have their cars impounded for as long as 30 days if the organizations don't comply with the state.

Further Reading

iPhone App Reviews