Cabbies limit service at Yongsan

[unhappycamper]

Cabbies limit service at Yongsan
By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, April 24, 2008

SEOUL — Customers trying to call a cab at U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan may have to wait during certain hours of the day.

Drivers with one of two taxi companies serving the garrison are turning off their radios for four hours each day — from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. — in protest after their employer denied their request for a pay increase.

The taxis will still operate. But customers trying to call a taxi to a specific location will probably face delays during those hours, said Army and Air Force Exchange Service spokesman Master Sgt. Donovan Potter.

Drivers with Worldcup Arirang Tourism Co., one of two taxi companies at Yongsan, began the practice Tuesday.

Arirang officials did not return calls to Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54268

[CRK7376]

1. I spent a year

at Yongsan a few years ago. Lived off post as do all officers and senior NCOs and did not own a car. My apartment was 2 mile walk away from my office, so each day I was hoofing at least 4 miles to and from work. I spent a year in Korea either walking everywhere or riding a bike. If I were going anywhere off post other than to the apartment I would bike or use the subway.

I don't think I used a cab more then 3-4 times during that year in Korea. I had to use a cab when I bought a TV, just in time to watch my Carolina Panthers lose the Superbowl in 2004. I also used a cab when I bought a computer, too hard to carry all those boxes uphill to the apartment...then to the airport at Inchon on the day I left Korea for home....It was an interesting year without a car.