Uber comes back in South Korea with premium Black service

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 19, 2016, 16:28 Updated : January 19, 2016, 16:28
 

[Aju News DB ]


After a change of tack aimed at jumping regulatory hurdles, US cab-hailing app operator Uber said Tuesday it was restarting its flagship luxury sedan service Uber Black in Seoul, giving a challenge to its South Korean rival Kakao.

Uber Technologies said Uber Black allows users to book premium taxis through a smartphone app. Users can track themselves while traveling and share locations in real time.

The base fare is 8,000 won (6.6 US dollars), compared with 3,000 won set for standard taxis in Seoul.

Uber suspended its key ride-sharing service in South Korea in March last year due to stiff resistance from taxi drivers and city authorities.

Previously Seoul citizens were barred from using Uber BLACK, which had hired drivers to operate rental cars. Under new rules, Uber will register existing taxi drivers to operate their own vehicles and pick up riders using Uber’s mobile app.

For Uber Black, veteran accident-free taxi drivers will operate Kia Motors’ K9 luxury sedans under an agreement with the country's second largest carmaker.

Uber, however, faces a tough competition with South Korea's popular mobile messaging platform KakaoTalk, which has introduced a free taxi-hailing service called KakaoTaxi, followed by its own premium service using foreign brands such as Mercedes-Benz.

Since its launch in March last year, KakaoTaxi has received more than 50 million calls, helped by KakaoTalk's 37 million users.

Charles Lim

아주경제 임장원 기자 = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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