"Chinese Koreans, you are sincerely welcome."
As the taxi industry grapples with a labor shortage driven by an aging workforce and poor working conditions, companies are posting targeted recruitment notices aimed at foreign workers to fill driver vacancies.
A Seoul-based corporate taxi company recently posted a notice in Chinese on an online job platform, saying it "sincerely welcomes ethnic Korean Chinese" and offers "customized consultation and support services."
The company said monthly earnings range from 2.3 million to 6 million won ($4,330) depending on work style and ability, with an average of 3 million to 4 million won. It also noted that Chinese nationals holding an overseas Korean (F-4) or permanent resident (F-5) visa are eligible to apply.
"Due to an aging workforce, we are recruiting Chinese drivers who speak Korean well," the company said, adding that foreign nationals account for about 20 percent of all applicants.
In practice, the total number of corporate taxi drivers has been consistently declining. According to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, the number of corporate taxi workers nationwide fell from 112,890 in 2016 to 75,109 as of August this year — a drop of 33.5 percent over a decade.
The decline is attributed to relatively low pay and demanding working conditions in the corporate taxi sector. According to the National Taxi Transport Business Association, corporate taxi drivers earn less than 3 million won a month on average — below delivery drivers at 5.17 million won and food couriers at 4 million won.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign corporate taxi drivers more than doubled over the same period, rising from 54 to 122. That figure also represents a roughly 47 percent increase from 83 at the end of 2024 — a gain achieved in just over a year.
Industry insiders say the shift on the ground is even more pronounced than the statistics suggest. "About two out of every 10 applicants who walk in are foreign nationals," one industry official said.
Analysts say the trend reflects two converging forces: corporate taxi drivers are migrating to higher-paying owner-operator licenses, while foreign workers who previously found jobs in construction and manufacturing are turning to the taxi industry as those sectors shed positions.
The taxi industry says hiring foreign drivers has become unavoidable given the aging workforce and persistent labor shortages. However, concerns have also been raised about the need for proper management systems — including ensuring smooth communication with passengers and conducting criminal background checks.
bbo@heraldcorp.com
