Seoul government to discuss raising taxi fees

People wait in line to take a cab in front of Seoul station in central Seoul on Aug. 9. [YONHAP]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will discuss raising taxi fees as demand for taxi rides surge during late night hours and the number of taxi drivers falls.

A public hearing related to taxi fares in Seoul will be held on Sept. 5, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday.

The base taxi fare in Seoul is currently 3,800 won ($2.80), which has been maintained for four years after a rise from 3,000 won in Feb. 2019. If the fair does get raised again this time, it is expected to exceed 4,000 won.

The demand for taxis during late hours has rapidly surged after most social Covid-19 distancing measures were lifted in April. But supply hasn’t been able to meet demand as the number of taxi drivers falls and many avoid driving during late hours.

“We are opening a public hearing due to the low supply of taxis at late hours and the lack of taxi drivers,” said a spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]