Taxi overcharge reports involving foreign passengers top 6,000 in 5 years: lawmaker

Foreign passengers submitted 6,481 complaints about alleged taxi fare overcharges in Seoul between 2021 and August this year. Administrative measures were taken in only 204 cases, including license suspensions or cancellations in 28 cases. More than 67 percent of complaints were closed internally, while a compensation policy introduced in 2013 has never resulted in a payout.

Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong of the Democratic Party of Korea cited Seoul city government data for the figures.

Drivers received warnings in 176 cases, while licenses were suspended or canceled in 28 cases.

A total of 4,368 complaints were closed internally because overcharges were difficult to verify or complainants voluntarily withdrew their reports.

Foreign complainants can apply for up to 500,000 won in compensation when a report leads to administrative action, but no payment has been made under the policy.

Published Oct 18, 2026 10:18 am KST

Updated Oct 18, 2026 5:47 pm KST

Empty taxis look for passengers near Hapjeong Station in Mapo District, Seoul, in this undated file photo. Korea Times photo by Na Gwang-hyeon

The number of complaints submitted by foreigners on alleged taxi fare overcharges in Seoul over the past five years came to more than 6,000, but corrective measures have been taken on only about 3 percent of them, a lawmaker said Sunday.

The number of such reports submitted between 2021 and August this year totaled 6,481, Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said, citing Seoul city government data.

Of the total, administrative measures were taken on only 204 cases, or 3.1 percent. Of those, drivers in only 28 cases had their licenses suspended or canceled, while those involved in the remaining 176 cases were given mere warnings.

Over 67 percent, or 4,368, of all reported cases were closed internally due to difficulties in verifying an overcharge and voluntary withdrawal of complaints, according to the data.

In 2013, the city government revised a policy on taxi fare overcharge complaints, allowing foreigners to apply to receive 500,000 won ($374) in compensation should their report result in an administrative measure.

The data showed there has been no case in which the compensation was actually paid out.

Rep. Mo pointed out that the policy has rarely been used due to the lack of public awareness, as well as the difficult process, especially for short-term visitors, to apply for the compensation.

"Procedural measures that can both protect those who file a report and a majority of the taxi drivers who diligently work should be introduced," he said.

2021年至今年8月期间，外国乘客共提交了6481起关于首尔出租车司机涉嫌多收车费的投诉。但仅有204起案件采取了行政措施，其中28起案件被吊销或注销出租车运营执照。超过67%的投诉在内部得到解决，而2013年推出的赔偿政策至今仍未支付任何赔偿金。

韩国民主党议员毛京钟引用首尔市政府的数据作为佐证。

176 起案件中，司机收到警告；28 起案件中，驾照被吊销或注销。

共有 4,368 起投诉因难以核实超额收费或投诉人自愿撤回报告而内部结案。

如果举报导致行政处罚，但根据该政策尚未支付任何赔偿金，外国投诉人可以申请最高 50 万韩元的赔偿。

发布于2026年10月18日上午10:18（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月18日下午5:47（韩国标准时间）

这张未注明日期的资料照片显示，在首尔麻浦区合井站附近，几辆空出租车正在招揽乘客。照片由《韩国时报》的罗光铉拍摄。

一位议员周日表示，过去五年里，外国人就首尔出租车车费被多收一事提交的投诉数量超过6000起，但只有约3%的投诉得到了纠正措施。

韩国执政党共同民主党议员毛京钟援引首尔市政府的数据称，2021 年至今年 8 月期间，此类报告的提交数量总计为 6481 份。

在所有案件中，仅有204起（占3.1%）采取了行政措施。其中，仅有28起案件的驾驶员被吊销或注销驾照，其余176起案件的涉事驾驶员仅受到警告处分。

数据显示，在所有报告的案件中，超过 67%（即 4,368 起）的案件因难以核实多收费情况以及当事人自愿撤回投诉而内部结案。

2013 年，市政府修改了出租车车费超额收费投诉政策，允许外国人申请获得 50 万韩元（374 美元）的赔偿，前提是他们的举报导致采取行政措施。

数据显示，目前还没有一起赔偿金实际支付的案例。

莫议员指出，由于公众缺乏意识，以及申请补偿的过程困难（特别是对于短期访客而言），这项政策很少被使用。

他说：“应该出台一些程序性措施，既能保护举报人，又能保护大多数勤恳工作的出租车司机。”