Busan’s corporate taxi industry is turning to an unlikely platform to lure new drivers: YouTube. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
BUSAN, Jun. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Busan’s corporate taxi industry, grappling with a severe labor shortage after the Covid-19 pandemic, is turning to an unlikely platform to lure new drivers: YouTube.
The Busan branch of the National Transport Service Workers’ Union released a trailer on June 18 for an upcoming video series titled “The Real Story of Taxi Drivers” on its “Taxi 0.2 TV” YouTube channel.
The three-part series will feature current taxi drivers candidly discussing their behind-the-scenes experiences, including what prompted them to start driving taxis, the impact of recent fare increases, and details about their daily and monthly incomes.
Busan’s corporate taxi industry is turning to an unlikely platform to lure new drivers: YouTube. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
In one notable segment, a driver plans to disclose his actual pay stub, revealing earnings both before and after deductions – a rare glimpse into the finances of the profession.
The drivers will also petition Busan city officials to ease late-night speed limits, expand support programs for the taxi industry, and lift regulations that restrict the number of cabs on the road.
Before the pandemic in 2020, there were over 20,000 corporate taxi drivers in Busan. But by the end of February this year, that number had plunged to around 5,600 – only a quarter of the pre-Covid level. As a result, more taxis are now sitting idle in parking lots than operating on the streets, leaving companies in dire financial straits.
To help alleviate the industry’s struggles, Busan plans to offer incentives like joint recruitment events and hiring bonuses for new drivers. Last month, the city also requested that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reinstate a quota system limiting the number of taxis, which was lifted in November 2022.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
