Busan Taxi Late-Night Surcharge Extension Issue... Busan City "Not Yet at Public Discussion Stage"

Busan Taxi Transportation Association Proposes Extension of Nighttime Taxi Fare Surcharge Hours
Busan City: "We Cannot Take Actions That Burden Citizens"

Late-night Taxi [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] After the social distancing measures were lifted, the Busan taxi industry discussed extending the late-night surcharge hours.

The Busan Taxi Transportation Business Association recently proposed to Busan City on the 22nd a plan to extend the current late-night surcharge hours for taxi fares, which are applied from midnight to 4 a.m., by starting them from 10 p.m., thereby adding 2 more hours.

Currently, in Busan, the basic fare for corporate taxis is 3,800 KRW for 2 km, and the late-night surcharge fare is 4,600 KRW. If the late-night surcharge hours are moved earlier to start from 10 p.m., passengers using taxis during this time will have to pay significantly higher fares.

The association expects that applying this plan will increase taxi drivers' nighttime operations.

According to the association, the number of taxi drivers in the Busan area exceeded 25,000 in the 1990s but has now dropped to around 7,000.

Recently, it has been reported that taxi operation rates are less than half, with companies struggling to recruit drivers.

An association official stated, "Taxi is an industry that can create jobs, but drivers are leaving the field because it is not profitable," adding, "The purpose is to increase drivers' income and make it easier to catch taxis."

Regarding this, Busan City said, "We cannot take actions that burden citizens," and a city official commented, "This is just a verbal proposal made at a recent industry meeting," adding, "It is not yet at a stage for public discussion."