If you plan to travel around Korea, you might want to consider taking an international taxi. Even though, as time goes by and the reputation of Korea grows as a place to visit, very few Korean taxi drivers speak any languages other than Korean. International taxis were introduced into Seoul in May 2009 as an option for tourists. Basically, they are supposed to provide translation services in English, Chinese and Japanese if you make a reservation. The taxis are orange and all the drivers should pass a foreign language test run by the city. There are three types: mid-size, deluxe and large-sized. We can all enjoy this easy and convenient way to travel in Seoul with the ‘International Taxi’.

Officially acknowledged and designated by Seoul City as the official ‘International Taxi’ service provider, these days English, Chinese Mandarin and Japanese people take this service more and more. The Seoul municipality manages the entire service; from the selection and education of its drivers to the fare and call center operation. Drivers and consultants are fluent in foreign languages, which mean that all the employees have completed the standard education course for language proficiency. International taxis escort foreigners around all areas between the airport and down town of Seoul at a specified time, and the service has a flat fare rate determined by Incheon International Airport and Seoul. The service consists of three kinds of fare systems according to the purpose of use and the intended location. The following table shows how the fare system works (Table 1). The transportation for the airport is not only reasonable, but the international taxis also provide a Seoul tour service. Usually it is not easy for foreigners to get a taxi and communicate with the normal drivers but because the international taxi drivers can speak foreign languages fluently, tourists won’t have a hard time getting to their destination due to difficult Korean pronunciation.

Drivers of international taxis are proud of their jobs in giving a first impression of Korea. “I was in a trading company before, and after retirement I wanted a rest. When I saw a notice for international taxi driver recruitment, I thought it was a chance to volunteer,'' said Byung-Tae Won, an international taxi driver. “As Hallyu, or the ‘Korean Wave’, attracted Japanese tourists, they wanted to visit the filming sites of hit dramas, so I tried to have a lot of information about these locations," he said. In addition, tourists can go to shopping centers like Dongdaemoon market and Myeongdong to enjoy the latest fads in department stores and duty-free shops. Also the drivers recommend the gourmands’ culinary tour, so you can experience the good quality of Korean traditional food through this service. As the service works as a guide to travelers, you can choose from a great choice of hand-picked tour courses or plan a trip yourself. So how can travelers use this service? Incheon and Gimpo airports have international taxi information desks where foreigners are able to make taxi reservations, check the status of existing reservations, and also receive a range of other helpful information. There is also a special waiting area for the international taxis. Non-Korean speakers can make enquiries and reservations for the international taxis by calling an exclusive call center (02-1644-2255). The service is available in English, Chinese and Japanese, and lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Reservations may also be made online at www.intltaxi.co.kr. ‘International Taxi’ is going to be a differentiated tourist service in Seoul and it will provide better, customized service to passengers to nurture it as a representative service of the capital.

Dalbon86@kookmin.ac.kr