Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Bobster]

We�ve all got stories to tell, at least any of us who�ve been more than 4 or 5 months.

I�ve had them cheat me, and I�ve had one try to cheat them, then hailed a cop when I called him on it. (The cop made me give him the disputed fare, and then pocketed it).

I�ve had them give me the scenic route just to drive the fare higher, assuming I wouldn�t realize it � and of course, I�ve had them drive right on by, refuse to pick me or a friend up because of my waygookiness, most recently to the tune of precisely 17 different taxis on a VERY cold night in this fine and wonderful city.

I�ve had them look sufficiently cross-eyed at my Korean wife that she freaked and wanted out of the cab. And I�ve had male Korean friends tell me you should never get out of a taxi first and leave the lady to ride alone, but rather ride with her to her home and then go to yours even if the fare works out to twice as much. (�Sometimes he forgets he is a taxi driver and thinks he is a husband.�)

But I�ve had good stuff happen, too. One guy lent his back to helping carry heavy boxes to and from his sedan when I was moving out of one apt and into another. (He didn�t have to, of course.) I�ve had one shout and leave his machine unattended to give me change when I was in too much of a hurry to wait for it.

A couple of times, back when I was taking cabs home from work every day, I had a driver who remembered me and took me directly home after I�d dozed off in the back � I had told him the name of the nearest subway station, after which I would get more specific with �turn left/right, etc.� instructions, but this time I�d have had to walk it in the cold but for the fact that he knew where I really wanted to go.

Had a guy in Chuncheon take us around to a dalk galbi place he knew, one near the train station (and a very small fare for him) that had been around for years, long before the town became a tourist destination for that dish, and the meal was prepared in a different, and much better style than the places downtown where all the Japanese were going to on buses.

Point is, there�s good mixed in with all the bad, but we tend to remember the bad ones.

So, tell your cab driver stories here, if you like, and while there have been other threads about the topic, I guess I�m more interested in the ones that are not horrifying. Just to see if anyone remembers those.

Or, just make a note briefly about aspects of taxis here that are nice � like this: they are much cheaper than back home, and they refuse to be let me tip them.

[peppermint]

I've always had good luck with cabbies. In my first couple of months I spent a lot of time in cabs going to corporate classes and such.

At worst they were silent and got me to the class on time, at best, they pointed out interesting things en route (pointed finger, "bery good!") and tried to teach me Korean after having a good laugh at my initial attempts to read the hangul on my destination cards.

By far the most interesting cab ride I had was in the Elvis cab, in Cheong ju. All Elvis, all the time. The cabbie had a young Elvis hairdo, the cab was fitted out like a noraebang on wheels, with Jailhouse Rock blaring. Oh, and it seemed the only English this guy knew was from the Elvis songbook. Fun times.

[nobbyken]

Mouths to feed, got to do something to earn a living.

I suppose it gets a bit cut-throat for them at times.
I think most of my nasty boys, will be too proud to collect cardboard for a living, but will choose a loftier career such as a taxi or bongo driver.

[SHANE02]

One bad experience in over 6 years.


Then there was the time in my first year here I was so drunk I got into a car that WAS NOT a taxi.
and.....

[Lekker]

For 1,100,000 a month, with no tip, I would be a psychopath on the roads as well.

[TheChickenLover]

Buy a car, problem solved.



Chicken

[nobbyken]

[The Bobster]

[aarontendo]

Never had many problems. Occasionally have a hard time getting one but that's bout it.

Have some interesting discussions with em, so that's always fun. Had one where the driver said he hated japanese chicks because they sleep with black men. Not being black, I said yeah I could see that they should be with me!

[waynehead]

I've only had a few problems in a year and a half. I was once stupid enough to let a busan taxi driver take me to some motel w/o the meter running (he'd picked me up at 3AM at the bus station, more than a little dazed). When we got there he wanted 60k, I told him to *beep* off and gave him 20...still got ripped off, but all in all if that's my worst story I don't have much to bitch about.

[crusher_of_heads]

I avoid them as much as I can. I know they have it tough, but that doesn't give the few buttheads out there license to be jerkasses.

[KYC]

I've had more problems with BUS DRIVERS than taxi drivers. Oh the bus experiences...they can go on and on.

[sadsac]

Both good and bad experiences. Mostly good though. Only bad ones have been when we have visited Seoul.

[livinginkunsan]

Any good taxi stories from Australia Boobster? Cause that is where you are isnt it? Miss Korea?

[Chris Kwon]

With gas being so expensive and taxi's being so cheap, how do they make a profit?