[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL -- Thousands of taxi drivers waving red placards demonstrated in central Seoul to oppose a carpool service pushed by South Korea's top message-app operator Kakao, five years after they derailed Uber's car-sharing service.
"The carpool service threatens our livelihood," the taxi drivers shouted at a rally on a public plaza two blocks away from the office of President Moon Jae-in, accusing Kakao of fanning what they called an illegally paid service by passenger cars.
The rally involving an estimated 15,000 taxi drivers came two days after Kakao's smart mobility and car-sharing wing started recruiting drivers for its carpool service. Kakao said its carpool service using a smart mobility app would ease the rush-hour lack of available taxis.
Taxi drivers argued the carpool service would damage their business. They also want the government to revise a law which stipulates that the owners of passenger cars can receive money when they provide rides for other people during commuting hours. Taxi unions called for a one-day walkout from 4:00 a.m. (1900 GMT) Thursday by all 255,000 taxis nationwide.
[Yonhap Photo]
Transport authorities said many taxis, especially in provincial areas, refused to join the walkout, while unions claimed about 50,000, or half of all taxi drivers in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province, boycotted their work. There was no visible disruption of traffic at morning commuting hours in Seoul where buses and subways were allowed to extend operating hours.
Kakao began its mobility service by launching Kakao T Taxi, a taxi hailing service, in 2015. The app is favored by consumers and taxi drivers because of its user-friendly interface and easy access. According to a survey conducted by Kakao Mobility, taxi drivers earned 37.5 percent more, compared to their earnings before the taxi-hailing service was launched.
Initially, taxi drivers welcomed the taxi-hailing app, but they now regard Kakao as their enemy trying to expand its clout into the transportation industry. Taxi unions called for government intervention and support, saying in a statement that tax drivers have endured low income, excessive work and poor working conditions for many years.
Uber launched a car-sharing service in Seoul in 2013 but suspended it due to strong protests by city officials and taxi drivers.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
