Taxi Industry Opposes 'Tada Not Guilty' Verdict, Plans General Strike in Yeouido on the 25th

On the afternoon of October 23 last year, members of the Seoul Private Taxi Transportation Business Association participating in the "Tada Out! Taxi Grand Festival for Coexistence and Innovation" held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, are shouting slogans demanding the expulsion of Tada.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The taxi industry is condemning the court ruling that the car-sharing service 'Tada' is not illegal and plans to launch a general strike on the 25th.

According to four taxi industry organizations, including the National Taxi Labor Union Federation, these groups will hold a general strike rally in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 25th of this month. Through the general strike, they plan to fight against the National Assembly and government for the passage of the 'Tada Ban Act.'

A taxi union official stated, "Today (the 20th), at 3 p.m., the four taxi organizations will hold a working-level meeting to coordinate detailed plans for the rally, including the schedule and mobilization of members." These groups also plan to file a rally notification with the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on the same day.

On the previous day, Judge Park Sang-gu of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 18 acquitted Lee Jae-woong, CEO of Socar, and Park Jae-woong, CEO of its subsidiary VCNC, who were indicted for violating the Passenger Transport Service Act.

Following the court ruling, the taxi industry began discussing joint response measures. The Carpool Emergency Countermeasures Committee, composed of four taxi-related organizations, convened an emergency meeting in the afternoon and issued a joint statement.

In the joint statement, they said, "As the court stated, the law must be interpreted considering the legislative intent of the lawmakers according to the principle of legality. It is contradictory to interpret 'Tada's illegal business activities,' which are unrelated to the exception allowing driver mediation for rental cars with 13 seats or fewer for 'small to medium-sized group tours,' as legal." They added, "The one million taxi families cannot accept the court's judgment."

The four taxi organizations are urging the prosecution to immediately appeal and are calling for the swift passage of the 'Tada Ban Bill (Amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act)' currently under review in the National Assembly.