Seoul said yesterday it planned to ban smartphone car-hailing service Uber, saying it raised passenger safety issues and threatened the livelihood of licensed taxi drivers.
The Uber app, which allows clients to connect directly with “black car” services, was launched in Seoul in August last year. However, the city council said it bypassed strict controls imposed on licensed taxi drivers, including background checks, insurance and vehicle upkeep and safety.
“We are looking into related laws to block Uber and similar apps that arrange such illegal transportation activities,” the council said in a statement. “Uber users should be aware that it’s hard to be covered by insurance even if a car accident occurs, let alone the issues of potential mechanical problems and background of drivers.”
The council said it would roll out its own mobile app in December for hailing existing, licensed taxis.
California-based Uber is the most prominent of the apps that are shaking up the traditional taxi landscape in cities around the world. It has already faced significant resistance from regulators in several countries and sparked angry protests by cab drivers in nations including France, the US and Germany.
In Taiwan, hundreds of taxi drivers protested in Taipei earlier this month about the rise of Uber, and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said it would crack down on illegal cab drivers that charge customers while avoiding the regulatory process.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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