By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
This is second in a two-part series about international taxis for foreigners in Seoul. ― ED.
Seoul City aims to promote its International Taxi Service (ITS) as a representative service in Korea. However a lack of infrastructure and promotion could thwart this.
The service is receiving generous reviews from passengers, both foreign and domestic, since its launch in May 2009. A foreign executive visiting Korea on business took an international taxi from the airport and said ``This driver was one of the best I have ever been with. He spoke excellent English and had good knowledge through extensive traveling and was very pleasant to talk with,'' through an email to the taxicab service.
He added that he would recommend the driver and service to other expatriates visiting Korea.
Drivers of international taxis are proud of their job in giving a first impression of Korea.
``I was a freelance writer before. When I saw a notice for international taxi driver recruitment, I thought it was a chance to volunteer,'' said Chung Byung-gi, an international taxi driver.
The 65-year-old mostly picks up passengers at airports ― either Incheon or Gimpo ― luxury hotels and downtown tourist spots such as Myeongdong or Dongdaemun Market. ``As Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, attracted Japanese tourists, they want to visit the filming sites of hit dramas, so I try to have enough information on such locations," he said.
``The quality of service in Korea is relatively lower compared to the national brand of Korea. I want to change taxi culture through this service,'' the driver said.
He said the system still lacks an infrastructure despite its intended goal of providing visitors with a good experience. ``For example, ordinary taxis can wait in front of the arrival are at Incheon International Airport until they get passengers, but international taxis do not have a waiting zone. We have to stand by at the long-term parking lot before receiving a call from the reservation center,'' he said. ``Measures should be taken to improve the national image."
Currently, international taxis can pick up domestic passengers downtown without reservations, just like other cabs.
``Basically, international taxis should only take foreign customers. However, the system is not fully established yet and taking only foreign passengers is not enough to make a living, Chung said. ``Some drivers are struggling to make their daily payment to the company as they can't drive two shifts or all day.''
The international taxi service aims to get a boost from the G20 summit in November, which will draw many foreign leaders, delegates and tourist to Seoul.
``We are negotiating with Seoul City to designate international taxis as the official service for the G20 summit,'' a representative of Korea Smart Card, the operator of international taxis, said. ``Moreover, we will secure international taxi-only stops downtown and promote their use overseas.''
A lack of waiting areas at Incheon International Airport has been pointed out as one of the problems the cabbies face, as some 77 percent of their passengers are from the airport.
``We discussed the issue with the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Incheon International Airport to procure a designated waiting area only for international taxis, but it is complicated as ordinary taxi companies think this as an infringement of their business rights,'' a city official said.
Still, they said they would establish additional information desks and designated waiting areas for international taxis in cooperation with the airport.
``International taxis are going to be a differentiated tourist service in Seoul and we will provide better, customized service to passengers to nurture it as a representative service of the capital, the face of Korea,'' he said.