Base Taxi Fare to Increase to W4,000

taxi meter

All Seoul residents, prepare to put your walking shoes on. Starting next year, the base fare for Seoul taxis could go up to W4,000, with the nighttime surcharge starting at 11 PM. 

This proposal to increase the base fare comes from a body of professionals looking to improve the working conditions of taxi drivers by matching the W10,148 per hour “living wage” condition set by the local government starting next year.

Drivers who work for taxi companies have to pay between 130,000 to 150,000 won a day to the company, while receiving 1.3 million won as a base monthly wage. They keep any money earned over the 130,000 to 150,000 won quota.

Due to this daily quota, drivers are pressured into refusing customers with shorter trips. Hopefully this base fare increase addresses those issues.

The final decision will be made after a meeting involving citizens and council members.