Korean Job Discussion Forums

[smartwentcrazy]

It's come to my attention that the most despicable, rude, and downright scum of this country inhabit the taxis. More so than your average drunk adjoshi. These scumbags would purposefully drive slow (we're talking below speed limit and half the speed of given traffic) and around in circles to cash in on a couple more measly WON. What do most of you do when you encounter these types of people? I'm sure I'm not the only one to experience this, I can't count the number of times I've heard similar stories. I was on the verge of rearranging a taxi drivers face when he decided to pull these antics on a ride home.

[jst]

[thomas pars]

I've been here a few years and have had my run in with some
pretty shifty drivers. My favorites are:

Driving like a !@#$ing maniac.

Trying to charge me the 2000Won city transfer fee
even though we aren't going into different cities.

Trying to sell me Viagra, Cialis. etc.

Taking the scenic route.

I usually find them annoying more than anything else. But there are some
felons/ex-cons that drive a taxi. A few years ago two girls were murdered
by their cab driver on their way to Hongdae.

Next time they try to rip you off tell them to drive you to the closest police
station. They'll get furious and demand you get out.

[sojusucks]

The government knows there are problems with taxi drivers.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931899

[Kimchifart]

[conbon78]

I've had really good experiences with taxi drivers here; however, there have been 3 or 4 times where I have had someone try to take me a longer way so that I pay more. What I always do is address it with them...I tell them what bridge to take and when they start going the wrong way, I keep silent. Then when the taxi arrives, I pay the amount that I know it should have been when I told them how to get there. They usually try to argue, but I never back down...I tell them (in English) what they were supposed to do. In addition, I always (when something is going wrong) write down their name in Korean and the number for the taxi company. I make sure they see me doing this and usually it scares the pants off of them.

One time I had a driver that took me the wrong way in Daejeon and he said there was too much traffic going the other way. I knew for a fact that there wasn't and he was just trying to make me pay more. I drew a map of the city and showed him how he took me the wrong way. I then told him (he spoke a little English) that I would pay the 5,000won that it should be from Daejeon station to home, but I wasn't giving him anymore. He kept asking how long I was visiting for...finally I said very loudly and as slow as I possibly could "I LIVE HERE!" He got the point.

[Illysook]

Here in Bundang they like to refuse people by saying "Seoul Taxi"

They don't want my cheap fare from Soehyeon to Sunae. They want trips into Seoul, but if they pick up enough local fares they can probably make as much or more. I really don't get it.

[nick70100]

[seoulsucker]

The worst for me are the DBs who believe pumping the gas pedal instead of holding it steady will either A: cause the meter to run higher or B: save gas. I've heard both excuses when I've nauseously complained.

Crackdowns won't do jacksquat. What they need to do is open a hotline where you can dob these guys in on the spot. I've had guys change their tune once I started writing down their license number/name. Yeah, it's a really awkward ride with them grunting and grumbling under their breath the whole way, but still...I get to where I want to go on the meter.

[thegadfly]

I've been in Korea for 11 years now...I have taken taxis hundreds, if not thousands of times during that span...I have had 6 bad taxi drivers in all that time, and 4 of those were about 15 years ago when I had a Korean girlfriend with me (so those were more based on seeing a "mixed couple" than on being a bad taxi driver, per se).

I've been blatantly ripped off three of those 6 times, and have been treated rudely 4 of the six times -- 2 of the ripoffs were quite polite about it.

I am not counting the folks that refused to stop -- they aren't a blip on my radar.

In that same amount of time, however, I have had about a hundred excellent taxi drivers that have undercharged me, or outright not charged me for rides. I have had many, many pleasant chats, in broken English or broken Korean, or even in quite fluent English on a fair number of occasions.

I have had three separate taxi drivers help me carry my luggage from the taxi up the stairs to the bus station when I missed the limo bus at Gimhae, and had to trek across town to the bus station (I fly into Gimhae, then bus it to Pohang).

All in all, I think taxi drivers to be a righteous bunch of folks -- in my book they have a much better track record than practitioners of many other professions with which I am acquainted....

[IlIlNine]

[Ice Tea]

I've been punched by a cab driver.

He nearly runs over me over when I'm crossing the intersection on my bike, because he doesn't stop when making a right-hand turn. I flip him the bird. He gets out, grabs me, yells at me, then punches me, gets back in his cab, and drives off.

Korea, sparkling!

[Kurtz]

On every occasion I've taken a taxi I've been taken for a ride....but I've never been overcharged and there's never been any shenanigans apart from having to answer the usual questions;

You Englishee teacher?
hagwon?
You marriagee?
You America?
You baby?
Agee?
You money what? (rubbing thumb and forefingers together)

I grew up with the slogan "buckle up", kind of feel insecure when the seatbelt doesn't work which is on most occasions, they usually drive like maniacs.

[willteachforfood]

I've got a list a mile long of things I don't like about this country, but taxis are not one of them (when I am a passenger)....I've never had an issue with a driver trying to rip me off....I've had several drunk taxi drivers, and one who was seriously so wasted I can't believe he was able to drive....but I think that most taxi drivers here are fair with the fare.

[sirius black]

I blew up once. The guy turned a return trip that should have been 4k into a 20k trip. I lost it, dropped a lot of MF's, etc. he may not have understood but he got the tone. I told him to stop andllitteraly balled up a 10k note threw it at him and he tried too do that 'who me?' thing and I told him where he could stick the money. He didn't argue about the fare (meter said 20k). He knew he was wrong. I should have kept my eye on the meter but was on the phone and he knew it. I almost wish he'd argue and call the cops so they could see what a scum bag he was for the distance he had to drive. I felt kinda bad later about blowing up at him but he asked for it.
One guy musta thought I was a military guy (I get mistaken for them at times) and I asked how much to go to so and so and he quoated about 3 times the usual fare and I immediately got out of the cab and gave him 'are you on drugs look' and then he tried to lower the amount and I told him to keep it moving. No way I'm getting back in the cab with that effin cheat. If they are acting way too rude for my liking, I stop the cab pay it and get another. I'm not gonna let myself get disrespected and pay for it.
I've heard much worse horror stories though.