GNP Vows LPG Tax Cuts for Taxi Drivers
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
A senior governing party lawmaker Tuesday vowed tax cuts to help taxi drivers suffering from income losses due to rising fuel prices and an increase in the number of taxi business.
``We will work closely with the government to cut additional and LPG taxes to help people in the taxi industry. The government already set aside 10 billion won under the plan, aimed to reduce the amount of tax levied on businesses,'' said Rep. Yim Tae-hee, chief policymaker of the Grand National Party (GNP), at a meeting with taxi drivers.
The issues of cutting a LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tax and reducing the amount of tax levied on businesses have become major items on the agendas of people in the industry as they affect their income.
GNP leaders including Chairman Park Hee-tae set up the meeting with taxi drivers and taxi business owners to listen to their concerns over increasing income losses.
``Politicians often call taxi drivers mobile television broadcasters, for they play a large role in shaping public opinion. So we came up with the idea of meeting you and listening to challenges facing you so as to find ways of helping you out with policy measures,'' said Park.
One of the participants from the taxi business said four major players ― GS, Hyundai, S-Oil and SK ― dominated the LPG fuel market under the current scheme and the taxi industry came to suffer as a result on account of expensive fuel prices due to their oligopoly.
He observed that easing regulations on oil export businesses would help lower fuel prices.
Participants from the taxi industry also asked the GNP to offer financial support to help the taxi business by designating it as public transportation.
Yim said regarding the taxi industry as public transportation is not as simple as it sounds, adding that nevertheless, the governing party is still working on ways to help the industry.
Yim added the GNP is also studying ways of helping taxi drivers who plan to change careers.