[Full Text] Tada Appeals to the President... "Please Veto the Tada Ban Act"

"Decision by Ministry of Land and National Assembly Betrays President's Words and Will"

Jaeuk Park, CEO of VCNC. /Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-gyu Lee] Ahead of the National Assembly's passage of the Tada Prohibition Act (Amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act), Tada appealed to President Moon Jae-in on the 6th, asking him to "exercise the veto power against the Tada Prohibition Act."

Park Jae-wook, CEO of VCNC, the operator of Tada, issued an appeal at the Blue House that afternoon, stating, "I write this on behalf of 12,000 drivers and 1.72 million users," and added, "I want to do anything, but this is the last thing I can do."

In his appeal, Park said, "The decisions of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Assembly betray the President's words and will," emphasizing, "Please help so that Tada's 12,000 drivers do not lose their jobs and about 100 young innovators are not pushed out of their workplaces."

He also stated, "I want to ask why the government is killing a young company that is growing rapidly, ignoring the President's announced national philosophy and the court's decision, and taking away 12,000 jobs. I also want to know if there is another reason and who is lying by reporting to the President that this is not the Tada Prohibition Act and that if the amendment passes, Tada can survive with a win-win plan."

Furthermore, he said, "I earnestly appeal to the President," and "The amendment that will pass the plenary session of the National Assembly is indeed the Tada Prohibition Act, and I hope you reject a society that does not dream of the future."

Below is the full text of CEO Park's appeal.

Letter to President Moon Jae-in

I request the exercise of veto power against the Tada Prohibition Act - Amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act, which will be passed by the National Assembly on March 6.

I understand how much effort you are making during the national disaster situation caused by COVID-19.

While fully aware of the urgency of the situation, I write this on behalf of 12,000 drivers and 1.72 million users.

I am Park Jae-wook, CEO of Tada.

The decisions of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Assembly betray your words and will.

Please help so that Tada's 12,000 drivers do not lose their jobs and about 100 young innovators are not pushed out of their workplaces.

I have become a sinner.

My promise to drivers and colleagues to protect jobs and show the future of innovation has become a lie.

I want to do anything, but this is the last thing I can do.

At the New Year's press conference on January 14 this year, you were asked about the 'Tada' issue and said the following:

"There is a need to create social compromise bodies case by case to discuss social conflicts between new and old industries like 'Tada.' We will do our best to ensure the interests of taxi drivers while allowing new and more innovative businesses like 'Tada' to enter the market."

I was overjoyed because I had gained the best supporter.

I expected new discussions to begin and Tada's challenges and ventures to bear fruit. However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport did not act accordingly.

Moreover, on February 19, the court rejected all the prosecution's claims for a one-year prison sentence and acquitted me. Having received the court's judgment, I was confident that I had a new time to move toward the future. However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Park Hong-geun of the Democratic Party, acting on its behalf, ignored the court's ruling.

Mr. President,

It seems the National Assembly was conscious of taxi votes ahead of the general election. Despite opposition from Assemblymen Lee Cheol-hee and Chae Yi-bae, the Judiciary Committee abandoned the unanimous rule and pushed through the bill. I read an article that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport prioritized the 'Tada Prohibition Act' over COVID-19 or real estate measures and lobbied for the bill's passage in the National Assembly. As a citizen, I feel devastated.

I want to ask why you are killing a young company that is growing rapidly, ignoring the President's announced national philosophy and the court's decision, and taking away 12,000 jobs. I want to know if there is another reason.

I also want to know who is lying by reporting to you that this is not the Tada Prohibition Act and that if the amendment passes, Tada can survive with a win-win plan.

Anyone running a business knows that stopping investment immediately and the hundreds of billions in accumulated losses will be fatal.

Tada is accumulating various data and operational technologies based on artificial intelligence technology.

Although it is an AI-based service, it is not a company that eliminates jobs but one that creates new jobs.

Tada's 12,000 drivers receive top-level treatment among autonomous-choice jobs in the platform economy and are protected similarly to the four major social insurances.

Tada Premium, a win-win model with taxis, allows taxi drivers to earn up to 100 million KRW annually without restrictions or the fatigue of roaming sales.

Tada has created a new ecosystem without receiving any government subsidies or benefits funded by taxpayers.

Above all, as acknowledged by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Tada has been loved by 1.72 million users and the public.

Last year, you announced the national AI strategy and future car vision. Tada and Socar are among the strongest and newest companies standing on that foundation.

I earnestly appeal to you, Mr. President.

Please let us work, let us run. The amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act that will pass the plenary session is indeed the Tada Prohibition Act. Please reject a society that does not dream of the future. Please prevent a society where young people cannot be encouraged to start businesses.

Please exercise your veto power for innovation and the future.

Mr. President,

A young entrepreneur kneels and speaks. I want to live as a citizen of a decent country.

I remember your inaugural speech beginning with, "My heart burns with passion to create a country I have never experienced." I want to face those words as a true historical sentence.

Please reconsider just once.

I wish you good health.

Thank you for reading to the end.

March 6, 2020, Sincerely, Park Jae-wook

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.