Seoul cracks down on taxis overcharging foreign tourists
 

The Seoul municipal government announced Wednesday it would launch a 100-day special crackdown on cab drivers' unfair treatment of overseas tourists.

The initiative will focus on illegal taxi activities such as overcharging, demanding tips, refusing to pick passengers up for short rides, and other inconveniences experienced by many overseas tourists when hailing taxis here.

The crackdown will take place in airports as well as tourist attractions in Seoul, such as the Myeong-dong shopping district.

In the capital's downtown, Seoul Metropolitan Government civil servants will penalize taxis that refuse to take overseas tourists on short trips; taxis that wait for foreign customers to demand prices above standard rates; and taxis that overcharge tourists at night.

The 100-day crackdown is designed to "rectify illegal taxi activities ahead of the peak tourism season in South Korea," according to Yeo Jang-kwon, head of the transportation office of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

According to Seoul, visitors to Korea can also report taxi-related issues via card-sized survey slips available at Incheon Airport and Gimpo Airport. The card links users to a survey via QR code, which can be used to report violations. This service is available in English, Chinese and Japanese.

In Seoul, a base fare for a single standard taxi ride up to 1.6 kilometers is 4,800 won ($3.46). An additional 100 won is charged for every 131 meters of travel. The base fare for cabs at night ranges from 5,800 won to 6,700 won, depending on the time of the ride.

Source : https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10548221

Comprehension

Who announced the 100-day special crackdown on taxi drivers?
What kinds of illegal taxi activities will be targeted during the crackdown?
Where will the crackdown take place?
What will happen to taxis that refuse to take tourists on short trips?
Why is this crackdown being launched before the peak tourism season?
What tools will tourists have to report taxi problems?
How can visitors access the taxi complaint survey?
In which languages is the reporting service available?
What is the base fare for a standard taxi ride up to 1.6 kilometers in Seoul?
How much is added for every 131 meters after the base fare?

Discussion

Have you ever experienced overcharging when using a taxi? How did you handle it?
Do you think a 100-day crackdown is enough to solve this problem? Why or why not?
What other problems do tourists sometimes face in your city or country?
How can taxi services improve to make tourists feel more welcome?
Should taxis charge more at night? Why or why not?
Do you prefer taxis, buses, trains, or ride-hailing apps when traveling? Why?
If you were a tourist in Seoul, would you feel comfortable reporting a taxi problem?
How important is it for services to offer information in different languages?
Have you ever refused a short ride as a driver or been refused as a passenger?
What could be done to improve trust between taxi drivers and tourists?

Vocabulary

Crackdown – Strong action to stop illegal or bad behavior.
Overcharging – Asking for more money than the correct price.
Demanding tips – Asking customers to give extra money for service.
Refusing – Saying no or not agreeing to do something.
Attractions – Places that are interesting or enjoyable for visitors.
Penalize – To punish someone for breaking a rule or law.
Peak season – The busiest time when many people travel or visit.
Violation – An action that breaks a rule or law.
Base fare – The starting price for a taxi ride before extra charges.
Additional – Extra or more than what is already given.