Seoul Taxis to Accept Transit Cards

The Seoul metropolitan government said yesterday that transportation cards including pre-paid, T-money and credit cards can be used in taxis starting next year.

According to the plan, about 3,500-5,000 taxis will be equipped with the transportation card device for a three-month trial operation, and the city will install the devices in all taxis in Seoul during the first half of the year.

Currently, Seoul has 72,000 taxis and they accept only cash. After receiving feedback from citizens, the city government will consider making it compulsory for taxi drivers to install the card devices.

``Although using cards became the norm, Seoul taxis doesn’t accept cards inconveniencing passengers,’’ said a Seoul City official. ``The plan will revitalize the use of taxis by improving the payment system.’’

However, it is questionable whether the new system will be smoothly adopted in Seoul, considering many troubles occurred in Inchon. Three years ago, the city of Inchon introduced the card payment system in taxis for the first time nationwide, but it had caused ceaseless problems both for drivers and passengers due to defects in the card devices.

The devices often failed to read the cards and imposed double-payments on some passengers. The city made it compulsory for taxi drivers to accept cards and fined those who didn’t install the card device in 2004. In response to the city’s policy, a driver even committed suicide.