High-end taxis will debut in Oct.

By Kim Se-jeong

Thirty high-end taxis will be in service in Seoul from October, accommodating the needs of people seeking a quality transport service, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), Wednesday.

The new high-end taxi or “gogeup taxi” service follows a revised law on passenger transport which allows vehicles with engines of more than 2.8 liters engine to run as premium taxies.

According to the SMG, the 30 new taxis will be bigger than ordinary taxis. They will also only be available if advance bookings are made.

The basic fare is likely to be set between 7,500 won ($6.5) and 8,500 won; ordinary taxis charge only 3,000 won. The new taxis will also be more expensive than the current deluxe black taxis or “mobeom” that charge 5,000 won for a basic fare.

The gogeup taxies will not have meters. “We are discussing with the taxi operator, High End, about how to charge fees,” an SMG official said. “We’ll decide what factors will be included for charges and what fares will be.”

He also said that any vehicle with an engine larger than 2.8 liters will qualify for the service, including imported cars. The vehicles for the new service have not been chosen, and the city said it’s open to any brand that can meet the engine size.

Almost 70,000 taxis are registered in Seoul, with 4,000 deluxe versions in black.

The SMG official said the idea of a luxury service came during the city’s dispute with Uber, the transportation network company.

“During the Uber conflict, we learned there is a desire for a new type of taxi service. We wanted these people to find that service in the existing taxi market.”

Uber collided with the city government and taxi drivers after offering services using uncertified taxi drivers. The city government cracked down on the U.S. company’s operations by encouraging citizens to report Uber drivers to the city authorities. It awarded money to those who did this.

The SMG is confident the new service will find enough niche customers.

“We think people will find this service useful. Imagine you want to surprise your boyfriend for his birthday. You could surprise him with a high-end taxi.”

He dismissed concerns that the new taxi service will upset existing taxi drivers. “They will not compete. The way the business is run doesn’t make the two compete.”

High End, the operator, will soon recruit drivers who will undergo special training. The company said their working conditions will be different from other taxi drivers who are paid based on performance only. The new drivers will have a fixed monthly wage.