Korean Job Discussion Forums

[premiummince]

Taxi drivers are the most civilized people out there. Give them a chance! They pick up white people too! Don't judge! Taxi drivers are people too!

[Stan Rogers]

If taxi drivers bother you so much you should take the bus/subway or buy a car.

[tiger fancini]

If you have an account at avistaz/asiatorrents this movie is available now.

http://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_Taxi_Blues.php#synopsis

Very interesting documentary style film about what taxi drivers here experience during their shifts. Old movie, but still pretty interesting.

[EZE]

[catman]

[cj1976]

Let's not mess around here. Some of these taxi drivers are assholes and they aren't doing their jobs. I understand they want to land a bigger fare, but surely a 10 minute trip for 6-8k is better than nothing. They can always turn around and head back to find another fare.
It is getting stupid. I was offered a cab home from Hongdae to Hyochang Park Station for 30,000. It is a 6,000 fare.

[Stan Rogers]

[bobranger]

[Dodge7]

I always wondered: do taxi driver prefer short trips for 2.300 or longer trips around 7-10.000. Because I have been told it's too far so it makes it seem like they'd rather do multiple trips at 2.300 instead of the longer ones.

[repeatpete]

when you consider the OP was talking about orange taxis, I'm going to relate my two cents on taxis generally.
taxis can absolutely be a frustrating experience. They are seemingly so cheap and at the right time, so convenient when you have the luxury of choosing whether to ride the subway or the bus.
Then there are those other times ............... You and most of Gangnam are trying to get a cab and instead, each cab just drives by at about 40mph while looking at the pathetic faces and from his drive by, he sizes everyone up and works out if any of these people are worth picking up.
I mean, the driver literally passes by but checks out all the waiting people. I guess if I was a taxi driver and it was raining/snowing I too would have to weigh up the potential fare versus the schadenfreude of making people wait.
It would be a tough decision indeed for me.
I feel certain someone will now interject and explain the 'da vinci code to getting a cab' involving; outside the city/Incheon only/two fingers up/short journey/long journey/hide the foreigner of the group/only have the pretty girl out/hold flowers/wear a suit/affect an injury/affect being 8 months pregnant/don't look drunk/don't look like you're going to throw up/be blond/just go back to the bar and drink till sun up/life is hard/deal with it/go back to your own country etc etc.
Personally, I've run a lot of the gauntlet and even once inside the taxi had 'engine trouble' develop after getting in as well as 'I've just finished my shift' (begging the question why are you picking up passengers?) etc etc
As others have said, this is a taxi, it isn't hitch hiking nor a friend of a friend offering to take you part of your journey since it's on their way.
When you encounter this silliness, it does make you angry and it it is intensely irritating. You just need a taxi. You don't need to see how the customer-worker relationship can be entirely subverted at whim.
BUT, despite the irritations I am sure many of you have had the experience of thoroughly decent and very nice taxi drivers. In particular I love the skill some show at navigating city hall traffic jams when I am a passenger and running late.
Over the years one or two have described how they have driven since 1997 or thereabouts and it was humbling to hear their story. Maybe it was just a story but to hear someone with excellent English now driving my entitled a** around at 3am, well, there but for the grace of God go we all.

[Stan Rogers]