Seoul Corporate Taxi Drivers' Backlight Advertisement Revenue Zero for 3 Years!

Do you know about the roof light (taxi sign light) advertisements on taxis?

Since 2021, all revenue from roof light advertisements on taxis has been taken entirely by taxi companies

This contrasts with corporate taxi side advertisements where labor and management split ad revenue 5:5

The ad revenue is not being used for the intended purpose of improving the treatment of transportation workers

According to Woo Hyung-chan, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (photo, Democratic Party, Yangcheon-gu 3), who reviewed the status of roof light advertisements, i.e., the Seoul city taxi sign light advertising business revenue, it was revealed that the user is monopolizing the advertising revenue.

After analyzing data from the office of Vice Chairman Woo Hyung-chan on the attachment of external advertisements on Seoul taxis and the status of advertising revenue, it was found that since 2020 until now (February 2023), corporate taxis in Seoul have generated a total of 2.3 billion KRW in advertising revenue from taxi sign light LED advertisements. However, the corporate taxis and companies have monopolized all advertising revenue, and no advertising income has been paid to the workers or labor unions.

The taxi sign light advertising business involves installing LED panels on taxi roofs to display advertisements and paying advertising revenue to taxi operators. This has been operated as a pilot project by Seoul city since 2021.

Seoul city has stated that advertising revenue would be used to improve the treatment of transportation workers and others, and during the selection of business operators, points were awarded based on the amount paid monthly to taxi operators (transportation workers). However, in reality, the revenue was distributed only to taxi companies and taxi associations.

Considering the ongoing labor shortage and management difficulties in the taxi industry, the roof light advertising was initiated to activate advertising. Although there have been concerns about safety accidents, it has had a positive effect by providing corporate taxi workers with motivation to work.

For example, the “taxi side advertisement” business, where ads are installed on the side of taxis, distributes advertising revenue 5:5 between users and workers, with half of the revenue used to improve the poor working conditions and welfare of taxi drivers.

Over the past five years, through the side advertisement business, the taxi association has distributed 860 million KRW and the labor union 800 million KRW in advertising revenue, demonstrating a good example of fairness and coexistence, which contrasts with the taxi sign light advertising revenue situation.

Vice Chairman Woo Hyung-chan of the Seoul Metropolitan Council emphasized, “Seoul city must actively supervise to improve the increasingly poor treatment of corporate taxi workers in Seoul. We will point out these issues and make active efforts and support at the council level to ensure that labor and management have opportunities for coexistence in the future.”

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