75% of Seoul Taxi Drivers Are Aged 60 or Older

83% of Taxi Accidents in Seoul Involve Drivers Aged 60 or Older

Seven and a half out of every ten taxi drivers in Seoul are aged 60 or older, and elderly drivers are responsible for more than half of all accidents.

According to an analysis by Kyung-Sook Lee, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from the People Power Party, based on data recently submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, approximately 75% of taxi drivers in Seoul are aged 60 or older.

Kyung-Sook Lee, Seoul City Council Member. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Council.

According to data from the Seoul Taxi Association and the Seoul Private Taxi Association, as of 2025, there are a total of 68,763 taxi drivers in Seoul. Of these, 32,678 are in their 60s, 18,028 are in their 70s, and 865 are aged 80 or older, meaning that three out of four drivers are aged 60 or above.

The aging trend is even more pronounced among private taxi drivers. Out of a total of 48,311 private taxi drivers, 37,799 are aged 60 or older, accounting for about 78%. In contrast, there are only 68 drivers in their 20s and 528 in their 30s.

According to statistics from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, there were a total of 1,986 traffic accidents caused by taxi drivers in Seoul this year. Of these, drivers in their 60s were responsible for 946 cases, and those aged 70 or older accounted for 701 cases, meaning that approximately 83% of all accidents were caused by drivers aged 60 and above. In particular, in the private taxi sector, drivers in their 70s were involved in 378 accidents, while those aged 80 or older were responsible for 23 accidents, highlighting the safety issues associated with elderly drivers.

Kyung-Sook Lee stated, "The taxi industry in Seoul is not only a livelihood for many elderly people but also a vital link connecting citizens," adding, "Meticulous policies are needed to ensure that drivers' experience translates into safety."