The Seoul Metropolitan Government revealed on Wednesday that it had imposed a fine of 600,000 won on a taxi driver who charged a passenger 30,000 won for a trip from Myeong-dong to Apgujeong, and revoked his taxi permit. (image: Kobiz Media)
Seoul, June 8 (Korea Bizwire) — A taxi driver who ripped off a foreign traveler by charging them over twelve times the normal fare had their license suspended, marking the first time that a new “strikeout” system was put to use.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government revealed on Wednesday that it had imposed a fine of 600,000 won on a taxi driver who charged a passenger 30,000 won for a trip from Myeong-dong to Apgujeong, and revoked his taxi permit. City officials said that they took the administrative measure because the driver had ripped off customers twice already in the same year.
The city has been trying to employ stricter tactics as cases of taxi drivers overcharging foreign passengers are reported on a regular basis. Last year, the city distributed taxi user guide booklets written in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, and placed the guides in taxis.
From March 23 of this year, the city has started to employ its more stringent policy in cases where taxi drivers have overcharged customers. In addition, officials have been cracking down on taxi drivers who rip off passengers through the creation of a task force team including nine specialized workers who are fluent in foreign languages, and by interviewing passengers getting off in the popular shopping district of Dongdaemun and hotels in Myeong-dong, where many foreigners stay.
By M.H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
