Beware taxi drivers that rip off foreigners with ridiculously high fares....because the Seoul government has put out some tough measures to crack down on such drivers.<br />Our Choi Si-young has more. <br /> <br />Around 20 million foreign tourists visit Seoul annually, so the Seoul Metropolitan Government is introducing stronger punishment to stop dishonest taxi drivers ripping off unknowing customers.<br />Effective from this month, it's hoped the changes will help international guests have a more enjoyable experience in the capital.<br /><br />Specifically, the local government will more frequently check whether taxis -- running back and forth to the country's biggest airports,... especially Incheon and Gimpo International Airports, -- overcharge newly-arrived foreign tourists. <br />The government had conducted the check-ups once a month, but it's changing to twice a week.<br /><br />If taxis are found to have overcharged passengers, the city government will deny them entry to the airport for 60 days the first time they are caught.<br />A third time will result in an indefinite ban from the taxi driver picking up passengers from the airport.<br /><br />The city has also employed more officers fluent in Chinese and Vietnamese to assist those who think they've been ripped off by a taxi driver.<br />They will be likely be dispatched to bustling shopping districts such as Myeongdong where majority of those tourists visit.<br /><br />The government also plans a covert scheme where officers pretend to be foreign passengers to catch unscrupulous drivers in the act.<br />With the crackdown on rogue taxi drivers, the government hopes more foreign visitors will look back on their trip to Seoul with only fond memories.<br /><br />Choi Si-young, Arirang News. <br />
