Popular Korean Idol Overcharged by Taxi Driver...Philippine Government Takes Swift Action
by Heo Midam
Published 06 Apr.2026 13:49(KST)
Soobin of TXT Faces Taxi Overcharging Incident During Trip
"Overcharging? Widespread Damage to National Image"
A controversy has erupted after it was belatedly revealed that a popular idol group member was overcharged by a taxi during a trip to the Philippines.
On April 1, the official Tomorrow X Together (TXT) YouTube channel uploaded a vlog showing member Soobin traveling to Cebu, Philippines with a friend.
According to the video, Soobin checked in advance that the appropriate fare for the route from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to his accommodation was about 300 pesos (approximately 7,500 won) while searching for a taxi.
However, the taxi driver demanded 500 pesos (about 12,500 won) before boarding, and after departure, suddenly raised the price to 1,000 pesos (about 25,000 won), citing high fuel costs as an excuse. After Soobin protested, they eventually agreed to pay 500 pesos, but upon arrival at the destination, the driver again demanded 1,000 pesos.
In the video, Soobin said, "Honestly, even 500 pesos was expensive, but then they asked for 1,000 pesos," adding, "Before getting out of the taxi, they asked for 1,000 pesos again, so I insisted on paying 500 pesos and left."
After the video was released, Filipino netizens posted comments apologizing. Local fans commented on Soobin's video, saying, "We sincerely apologize," "Fraud against foreigners should never be normalized," and "We are sorry."
As the controversy spread, the Philippine authorities took immediate action. According to local media outlets such as the Manila Bulletin, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), under the Department of Transportation, imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on the taxi driver on April 3 and ordered the immediate surrender of the vehicle's license plate and the driver's license.
The LTFRB issued a statement criticizing, "Blatant disregard for basic regulations undermines the public's trust in essential services and causes widespread damage to the national image." The board also stated that, depending on the results of the ongoing investigation, it is considering criminal charges and vehicle impoundment for the taxi driver.
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