Foreigner – Living in Seoul 12 years.
Last night was the worst I have ever seen the taxi mafia in itaewon!
I was going home about 2am – itaewon to hbc5gori (해방촌5거리). I was trying to get a taxi next to the Nike store on kakao taxi/uber taxi and there was a line of taxi drivers from the nike store right back to the lights at the hamilton hotel. All just chilling out chatting to each other waiting. Then an ajosshi from the taxi driver group came to me and asked me where I was going. I told him haebangchon 5gori and he asked me for 60,000! Usually its 9-11,000. I told him 60,000 is too much and told him 20,000won. He then told me 30,000 and I didnt want to give him that much so I told him I will try the apps again. After 2/3mins I realized the apps were just no use for getting a taxi at that time so I approached him again. He then told me the price had gone up to 40,000won and refused to bring it down. I decided to walk home instead!
The thing that bothers me the most is that while I was standing there 3 other people spoke to this guy and agreed OUTRAGEOUS PRICES with him. He then called other taxis in the line of cars to come and collect the people and told them the price he negotiated with them. They were all Koreans so I know this is not just something happening to foreigners. But its just mind blowing to me that they can get away with this shit behavior! Why are the police allowing this bullshit to happen??? They are literally all sitting there basically parked and causing more traffic problems to bully people to pay their outrageous prices! What can be done about it? Record them and go to the police to report it? Call the police and tell them its happening and hope they come out next friday/saturday night and move them along so they cant do it? I know I probably sound ridiculous but it really just pissed me off last night that this one guy was basically the mafia boss directing all the drivers and ripping people off!
submitted by /u/ajleavy21
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