Average Fare Increases by 12.6% Based on Typical Trip Distance
Late-Night Surcharge Rises from 20% to 30%
Starting from the 22nd, the basic taxi fare in Daegu City will increase by 500 won from the current 4,000 won to 4,500 won, resulting in an approximate 12.6% increase based on the average taxi trip distance of 5.58 km. Currently, a 5.58 km taxi ride costs 6,754 won, but after the increase, it will cost 7,604 won.
The fare adjustment plan, which includes these changes, was reviewed and approved by the Daegu City Transportation Improvement Committee and the Regional Economic Council at the end of last year, leading to the first taxi fare and rate increase in two years since January 2023.
The adjusted fares and rates were determined by comprehensively considering the rising taxi operation costs such as labor and fuel, the financial difficulties faced by the taxi industry, fare equity with other local governments, and the burden on citizens.
For standard taxis, the basic fare will increase by 500 won from the current 4,000 won for up to 2 km to 4,500 won for up to 1.7 km, and the distance fare after the basic distance will change from 100 won per 130 meters to 100 won per 125 meters.
For standard taxis, the basic fares in other cities are as follows: Seoul 4,800 won (1.6 km), Busan 4,800 won (2.0 km), Incheon 4,800 won (1.6 km), Gwangju 4,300 won (1.8 km), Daejeon 4,300 won (1.8 km), and Ulsan 4,000 won (2.0 km). Daegu is the first city in the country to raise taxi fares this year, with Ulsan scheduled to increase fares in March. Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Gwangju are also considering fare increases within this year.
Regarding surcharge fares, the current late-night surcharge of 20% applied uniformly from 11 PM to 4 AM will be increased by 10 percentage points to 30% from midnight to 2 AM. The out-of-city boundary surcharge will also increase from 30% to 35%.
The basic fare for deluxe and large taxis will increase by 500 won from 5,500 won to 6,000 won, with the late-night surcharge applied identically to that of standard taxis.
However, the fare increase, originally scheduled for implementation in January, has been delayed to midnight on the 22nd due to rapidly changing domestic and international circumstances, aiming to stimulate domestic demand and stabilize prices.
Meanwhile, in line with this fare adjustment, all taxis operating in Daegu will be equipped with an ‘app taxi meter.’ Unlike the traditional electric meters that calculate fares based on mechanical operations (wheel rotations), the app taxi meter uses GPS to determine the vehicle’s location and calculates time, distance, and speed through an application-based system.
The ‘app meter’ allows for more accurate fare calculation through real-time GPS location information, and when fares are adjusted, the software can be updated uniformly without the need for meter repairs or driving inspections. Most importantly, the out-of-city boundary surcharge is automatically applied, fundamentally preventing unfair fare issues and enhancing trust in taxi services.
Heo Jun-seok, Director of the Daegu City Transportation Bureau, stated, “Due to the difficult business conditions caused by continuous cost increases, the taxi fare increase was inevitably decided in early December, but Daegu City has delayed implementation as much as possible to reduce household burdens during the beginning of the year and the Lunar New Year holiday.” He added, “We will do our best to ensure that the fare increase leads to noticeable improvements in transportation services, such as enhanced driver courtesy and improved vehicle cleanliness.”
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