If I told you a city in one of the Koreas banned Uber, the taxi hailing app, you would probably guess Pyongyang, right? Guess again.
It’s Seoul, the capital, largest city and business/social hub of South Korea, that is seeking a ban on Uber. Government leaders in Seoul are calling Uber illegal. South Korean law forbids for profit?transportation or go-betweens for that transport that isn’t government registered. ?This app is by no means government?registered. Back in April 2013, one driver was fined nearly $1,000 for using Uber.?Seoul plans to?launch it’s?own?app, very similar to Uber,?by December 2014. But Uber spokespeople in Seoul are fighting back. ?One said outlawing this app puts the city in danger of moving backwards globally and economically.
Seoul, South Korea isn’t the only city?not in?love with the Uber app. Cities throughout Europe are raising chaos over this app. Brussels, Belgium and Berlin, Germany banned the app. Hamberg, Germany wants too. London cabbies have protested Uber in droves. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an app (that wasn’t violently or sexually or language explicit) cause such international controversy. I did a blog about the London protest. I said it then and I say it now, people don’t like change and cab companies are scared to death this is going to cut into their profits. And since taxis are higher taxed in these nations, governments are fearful Uber’s going to cut into their bottom line. Plus Uber can tell people how much a trip is going to cost. This makes cabbies more accountable as consumers become more street wise to meter milking. What are your feeling on Uber?