"This Month's Salary 700,000 Won... Taxi Driver in Disaster Relief Blind Spot 'Sighs' Unable to Cover Daily Quota"

Customer Visits Plummet Due to Prolonged COVID-19 and Social Distancing Measures
Taxi Operators Down 12% Compared to Last Year

On the morning of the 11th in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, a taxi driver in his 50s expressed that his business revenue had nearly halved due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Photo by Yeonju Kim, intern reporter yeonju1853@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and Yeonju Kim] "It's common not to even cover the daily quota, so sometimes it's better to just rest at home," and "Even after driving all morning, the earnings are just so-so."

As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic damage to self-employed individuals and small business owners, the escalation of social distancing measures is also impacting the taxi industry.

Due to some companies implementing remote work and recommending reduced outdoor activities, along with the 2.5-level social distancing measures continuing until the 12th that restrict restaurant operations after 9 p.m., foot traffic during both day and night has dried up.

According to the National Taxi Transportation Business Association Federation, the number of taxi drivers nationwide decreased by 12% from 102,320 in December last year, before COVID-19 cases emerged, to 90,005 in June this year. The industry is losing workers who cannot endure the prolonged pandemic.

Moreover, corporate taxis are not eligible for the second round of disaster relief funds, which is adding to their difficulties.

While individual taxi drivers, as sole proprietors, are included in the support, corporate taxi drivers, who are employees of taxi companies, are likely to be excluded from the aid.

Mr. A, a taxi driver in his 50s, said, "I received the first disaster relief fund, which helped a little, but I am frustrated that I won't receive this time." He explained, "If social distancing were eased, I would drive through the night, but under the current circumstances, operating while covering the 160,000 KRW daily quota at night is actually a loss."

Mr. A added, "No matter how bad the recession is, this is the hardest I've experienced in over 20 years of taxi driving. My earnings have dropped by nearly 1 million KRW. Other drivers are all saying they are at their wit's end. I think the government should step in and come up with relief measures," urging for solutions.

As the government implemented the 'Social Distancing Level 2.5' measures in response to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection, taxis were lined up to pick up passengers in front of Seoul Station on the afternoon of the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

Mr. B, who has been in the taxi business for 20 years, said, "I received 720,000 KRW this month. Since I have to pay the daily quota, I often end up in the red." He lamented, "Before the COVID-19 crisis, I used to carry more than 20 groups of passengers a day, but now I can't even carry 10."

Mr. B added, "If I could at least pick up passengers at night, I could hold on, but due to social distancing, passengers have completely disappeared. I'm barely hanging on, but no company or government agency is stepping up to understand the situation of taxi drivers, so it's a fight I have to endure alone."

Given this situation, the Korean Federation of Taxi Labor Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' National Democratic Taxi Labor Union emphasized that corporate taxi workers must be included in the second round of disaster relief fund recipients.

At a press conference held on the morning of the 10th in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, the two major taxi unions pointed out, "It is known that taxi workers employed by corporate taxis have been excluded from the second disaster relief fund, which is enraging taxi families who have been hit hard by COVID-19."

They continued, "Over the past six months, more than 10,000 taxi workers have quit or switched jobs. Recently, the fear of COVID-19's resurgence has led some to complain that it's better to quit than to work, as they suffer from severe livelihood difficulties and the fear of unemployment."

They added, "We hope to give taxi workers a glimmer of hope to continue operating taxis without succumbing to the fear of COVID-19. If the government, ruling party, and National Assembly discriminate by excluding corporate taxi workers, they will face strong public condemnation and struggle."

Meanwhile, health authorities plan to decide this weekend whether to extend the 2.5-level social distancing measures in the metropolitan area.

On the 11th, Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong, "We will put all our efforts into discussions for a day or two, gather expert opinions, and then provide guidance on the social distancing measures over the weekend." He added, "Regarding the decision on strengthened social distancing measures, the discussion at today's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting was to observe the situation a bit longer to decide whether to extend, stop, or implement another effective third method of social distancing."

He further explained, "We will observe the trend for a day or two and gather expert opinions. Then, after fully considering the opinions of local governments and other ministries, a decision will be made soon."

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