Large taxi driver business emerges as a business venture for middle-aged and elderly people in South Korea

Luxury taxi services, mainly large taxi dispatch services, are emerging as a new business venture for retired middle-aged and elderly people.
The total number of new businesses in 2024 is expected to be approximately 1,183,000, down 4.5% from the previous year.
Meanwhile, according to the Korea Transportation Safety Agency, the number of applicants for training for taxi drivers increased 16% from 6,569 in the July-September period of 2024 to 7,600 in the January-March period of 2025.
Large taxis are attracting particular attention. For example, the number of drivers newly registered for Kakao Mobility's "Kakao T Venti" has increased by more than 30% compared to the previous year.
A Kakao Mobility official said, "The average working hours for Kakao Venti is 6.3 hours. Even if the number of dispatches is 8 to 9, it takes about 10 hours for a medium-sized taxi.
"They can earn the same income as if they had worked the whole time. In many cases, drivers are people with high positions, such as general managers at large companies, veterans, and civil servants."
Experts say this trend should not be short-lived. Professor Ko Jun-ho of the Graduate School of Urban Studies at Hanyang University said, "The average survival rate of self-employed people is
The period is less than five years, and the average monthly earnings are difficult to exceed the minimum wage. Retirement is also happening earlier than before. The government should provide reemployment education and revitalize the relevant industries.
"It is necessary to have this in mind."