Seoul to suspend operation of 730 taxis for refusing passengers

Seoul Metropolitan Government will suspend operational licenses for 730 taxis over the repeated refusal by some of their drivers to pick up passengers. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it has suspended the operational licenses for 730 taxis at 22 taxi companies for 60 days for the repeated refusal by some of their drivers pick up passengers.

This is the first time that the suspension penalty has been slapped not only on drivers but also their companies.

Seoul City notified the taxi companies of the suspension in December and the 60-day operation halt will begin today.

It said 365 taxi drivers at the relevant companies were reported to have refused passengers multiple times. According to the relevant regulation, the number of taxi-operation licenses to be suspended is twice the number of the violators.

However, the 730 taxis will not all be suspended at the same time as, according to a local government official, that could cause a shortage of taxis in the capital. The suspension will be rotated through companies between February and August.

The suspension was made after the city government took over the right to penalize taxis from district offices last November, after the latter had failed to penalize drivers and companies.

If multiple taxis of one company repeatedly refuse passengers, a heavier penalty can be imposed, ranging from reducing the number of taxi licenses given to it to the cancellation of its business license.

“We will punish taxi companies harshly to improve their service,” the official said.