Beware taxi drivers that rip off foreigners with ridiculously high fares....because the Seoul government has put out some tough measures to crack down on such drivers.
Our Choi Si-young has more.
Around 20 million foreign tourists visit Seoul annually, so the Seoul Metropolitan Government is introducing stronger punishment to stop dishonest taxi drivers ripping off unknowing customers.
Effective from this month, it's hoped the changes will help international guests have a more enjoyable experience in the capital.
Specifically, the local government will more frequently check whether taxis -- running back and forth to the country's biggest airports,... especially Incheon and Gimpo International Airports, -- overcharge newly-arrived foreign tourists.
The government had conducted the check-ups once a month, but it's changing to twice a week.
If taxis are found to have overcharged passengers, the city government will deny them entry to the airport for 60 days the first time they are caught.
A third time will result in an indefinite ban from the taxi driver picking up passengers from the airport.
The city has also employed more officers fluent in Chinese and Vietnamese to assist those who think they've been ripped off by a taxi driver.
They will be likely be dispatched to bustling shopping districts such as Myeongdong where majority of those tourists visit.
The government also plans a covert scheme where officers pretend to be foreign passengers to catch unscrupulous drivers in the act.
With the crackdown on rogue taxi drivers, the government hopes more foreign visitors will look back on their trip to Seoul with only fond memories.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.
