SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Wednesday that it plans to introduce call taxis specifically designed to prevent taxi drivers from rejecting customers as well as reservation taxis available exclusively for female customers before the end of the year.

These taxis will be allowed to operate immediately following official approval.

Seoul will begin allowing transportation franchises this month, including Tago Solutions’ Waygo Blue, a taxi service that does not notify the driver of the destination before the customer enters the vehicle, and Waygo Lady, a reservation taxi service for female customers only.

The Waygo Blue service is staffed with outstanding drivers from 50 taxi companies who have taken 20 hours of mandatory courses on customer satisfaction.

Waygo Blue provides call services that do not inform the driver of the destination in advance, in order to prevent drivers from rejecting customers based on the destination requested.

The taxis will also provide free charging for smartphones, water, air fresheners, and even classical music during the ride.

Waygo Lady accepts female customers only. The only exception is when the female customer is accompanied by male children under 13 years of age.

Twenty taxis will be operated during the trial period, after which the service is expected to be expanded.

The city’s Taxi Transportation Franchises are a newly introduced form business organization designed to resolve rejection by driver, unfriendly service, and aggressive driving.

They also incorporate various services to meet different customer demands.

A transportation franchise will be granted approval to provide various taxi services if it meets the legal requirements and gathers a minimum of 4,000 taxis as members of the franchise.

Drivers in a transportation franchise are obligated to take a course on customer satisfaction, and follow strict service regulations. In return, they can charge extra fees for the supplementary services that they provide.

Seoul also plans to also approve pet taxis, “silver” taxis for seniors, and others by next year.

“We will provide high-quality taxi services through transportation franchises,” said Ko Hong-seok, deputy mayor of Seoul for City Transportation.

“A variety of supplementary services will be provided to maximize convenience.”

H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)