Taxi ride-sharing to be allowed on Fridays

By Lee Kyung-min

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Sunday that it will allow taxis to provide a ride-sharing service on Friday nights near Gangnam Station in southern Seoul by as early as August.

The move is in response to high demand for taxis there late at night when buses and subways have stopped operating.

The SMG will run a pilot operation for four hours between 10 p.m. on Friday and 2 a.m. on Saturday for two months.

“Currently, it is illegal for cabbies to carry additional customers before reaching the first passenger’s destination. But the transport ministry told us that it is not against the law if passengers want to share taxi rides,” said an SMG official.

Those wishing to share a ride can take the same vehicle only when departing from Gangnam Station. Taxi drivers cannot take additional passengers in the middle before reaching the destinations of the first passenger.

Sharing is also available only when passengers agree. The SMG is considering offering those sharing taxi rides a 20 to 30 percent discount on their fares.

Depending on the result in Gangnam, the SMG may expand the service to the Hongik University and Jongno areas, two of the busiest in the capital.