Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smee]

Everybody says that black taxi cabs are always more expensive. Is that really the case? Is that a Seoul thing? Down in Suncheon and Gwangju black cabs are all over the place and I've taken them many times in the past two years. They're mixed in with gray cabs in taxi lines and when you're trying to hail a cab it's not uncommon to find a black one. In those two cities I've never noticed the meter starting at a higher fare, and I've never noticed it costing more for me to get home. (I don't watch the meter like a hawk, but from what I can tell it's costing me the same). So, is this a "rule of thumb" that's obsolete, or one that's true only in certain places of the country? Always been curious.

[Lekker]

In Seoul they're called Luxury Taxis. Maybe they smell nice inside, and the Taxi driver is dressed nicely, and the interior is all leather and what not.

Bottom line is, they smell nice because they were sprayed with Glade spray after the last person got out and before you got in.

The interior leather is still fake leather/pleather.

And the Taxi driver is still a Taxi Driver.

They charge more but they still get you from point A to B, unless the Taxi Driver doesn't know where he is going.

[Bibbitybop]

I have some friends who took on from Hongdae to Gangnam one night and paid 120,000 won for the trip.

[pkang0202]

These are special black cabs with gold trim and gold lettering. You know you are in one when as soon as you sit down the meter reads around 4,000w.

[shaunew]

These taxi drivers have not had an accident for 10 years I think. This is the top of the line for taxis here in Korea. My wifes cousin is one. He was making 1.2 million as a normal taxi driver, then when he went to the big leagues he now makes 2 million won. He walks around like he is the king.

[Underwaterbob]

Wow. The ten year no-accident guys get a sticker that says "Best Driver" here. Their cabs cost the same as everyone else's.

[Smee]

Hmm, okay, so they're exclusively a Seoul/Gyeonggi thing? Like I said I've gotten in black cabs down here before and there was no difference from the gray ones. So do they say "luxury cab" on them or something? Were they mixed in with regular ones, or did you have to specifically call for them?

[seoulsucker]

They're a godsend on late nights when you're stuck in a busy part of town (Gangnam and Jongno especially) and the scammer jackholes in normal cabs are waving you off because you refuse to pay triple fare.

[samd]

[cdninkorea]

[jim_we]

I used one long ago when I didn't know the difference. I learned the difference fast after that!