서울시가 운영해 온 ‘인터내셔널 택시(International Taxi)’가 만 10년을 못 넘기고 민간에 넘어갈 지경에 처했다. 인터내셔널 택시는 관광객유치 활성화를 도모한다는 취지로 지난 2009년 도입됐다.관련 영어기사 보기 시 도시교통본부는 지난 11일 ‘서울특별시 외국인관광택시 운영사업자 모집공고’를 내고 시를 대신할 신규 운영업체를 모집한다고 밝혔다. 김숙자 택시물류과 팀장은 “업계 요구에 따라 민간자본이 투입될 수 있도록 (인터내셔널 택시는 이제) 비예산사업으로 운용할 것”이라고 밝혔다. 이른바 민영화 준비작업이다. 그간 말도 많고 탈도 많았다. 뒷말이 무성했다.민간 택시업계의 반발로 시 주관 국제행사나 관광마케팅 연계가 미뤄지는 등 홍보가 잘 이뤄지지 않는다는 지적이 끊이질 않았다. 또 지난해에는 ‘관광객 못태우는 관광택시’ ‘세금 도둑’ 등으로 불리는 등 여론의 뭇매를 맞기도 했다. 서울 인터내셔널 택시의 모습. 사진=대한상운시가 추진하는 이번 민영화에 대해 업계의

Cloudy skies and rain are expected to make their way across South Korea, while fine dust levels could rise in the capital, Chungcheong provinces and Gangwon Province in the morning due to an influx of smog from China carried by northwesterly winds, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration Tuesday.Rainfall of less than 5 millimeters, or snowfall of around 1 centimeters, is expected in Seoul and central parts of the country, which may clear fine dust particles in the daytime.  (Yonhap

Aimed at tackling the worsening air quality, the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s free public transport program went into effect Monday, the first time since its introduction last year. Fees for the subway and city buses were waived during commuting hours to encourage commuters to use public transit in an attempt to reduce vehicle emissions, as the daily average density of ultra-fine dust in the capital area was expected to remain above 50 micrograms until Tuesday.Seoul is expected to spend 6 bil

Warmer temperatures above the freezing point and cloudy skies are in the forecast for Monday in South Korea, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration. Temperatures will hit a high of 7 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 10 C in Daejeon, 12 C in Gwangju, 11 C in Daegu and 12 C in the southeast coastal city of Busan.  A layer of fine dust covers Seoul on Sunday. (Yonhap)For the morning commute, lows are near freezing in Gumi and Jinju in the inner regions of the Gyeongsang provinces. The Seoul

The PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games are just a few weeks away, but the booking rate for accommodations in Gangwon Province remains below 30 percent despite the government’s effort to crack down on price gouging.The Olympic Plaza in PyeongChang, South Korea, where opening and closing ceremonies will be held. YonhapAs of last week, 16,744 individual rooms have been booked ahead of the games out of 67,879 rooms at 4,797 accommodations, according to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee. While rooms

The current cold wave will persist through Friday, with lows of minus 15 degrees Celsius in Seoul and minus 20 C in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province as of 9 a.m., and daytime high of only minus 6 C in the capital city.  (Yonhap)Very cold wind chills are expected in most parts of South Korea to range from minus 19.9 C in Incheon to minus 13.9 C in the southeastern port city of Busan in the morning. In what has already been a much colder than normal stretch of weather since Thursday, Friday’s frigid co

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic torch is set to arrive Saturday in Seoul -- the host city of the 1988 Summer Games -- as part of the torch relay across the country in the run-up to February’s Winter Games in Gangwon Province.  Photo taken in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the torch, which carries the flame that was lit at the Temple of Hera in Greece in October last year and arrived in South Korea in November, will tour the capital city until Tuesday. Thi

Extreme cold gripped South Korea on Thursday -- with a wind chill of minus 16 degrees Celsius in Seoul in the morning -- and it is forecast to reach its peak Friday, according to the country’s weather agency. Icicles are seen near a residential area in northwestern Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap)Thursday’s temperatures across the country hovered around minus 10 C in general, making it the coldest day of the year. Runways at Jeju Airport were closed earlier in the day due to heavy snowfall of around

Thursday’s temperature hit around minus 10 degrees Celsius in general, with a wind chill of minus 16 degrees Celsius in Seoul in the morning. Frigid conditions have gripped most parts of South Korea and are expected to last most of the day, with daytime temperatures expected to remain at minus 7 C in the capital city, minus 5 C in Jeonju and minus 3 C in Daegu.  (Yonhap)Wind-driven snow is expected in South Chungcheong Province, the Jeolla provinces and Jeju, where extreme snowfall warnings are

North Korea has agreed to send athletes to the 2018 Winter Olympics, but the question remains: How many are coming? North Korean cheerleaders cheer for South Korean athletes at the 2003 Summer Universiade held at the Daegu World Cup Stadium in South Korea. (Yonhap)On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said “a massive delegation totaling between 400-500 people” is expected to visit South Korea, during a meeting with companies sponsoring the PyeongChang Olympics. Earlier in the morning, the Pye

Strong winds and low temperatures will prevail across the country Wednesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Temperatures are expected to reach minus 10 degrees Celsius in the morning in some parts of central inland areas, according to the weather agency, which has issued heavy snow warnings for Chungcheong, Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces.  (Yonhap)Freeze warnings have also been issued for areas in northern Gyeonggi Province and the central inland cities of Gangwon Provinc

Cold and snowy weather in many parts of South Korea is forecast for Tuesday, with temperatures dropping to minus 5 degrees Celsius in Seoul in the morning, minus 3 degrees Celsius in Daejeon and 1 degree Celsius in the coastal city of Busan. (Herald DB)The Korea Meteorological Administration said Tuesday cloudy skies are likely to prevail across the country, and snow is expected at night in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, south-central parts of Gangwon and Yeongseo regions, Chungcheong Province, Jeoll

South Korean business tycoons are set to take the stand as witnesses in the hearings for ousted former President Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office and arrested in March on charges of corruption and abuses of power. CJ Group chairman Sohn Kyung-shik appears at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday afternoon to take the stand as a witness at former President Park Geun-hye’s hearing (Yonhap)The Seoul Central District Court on Monday summoned Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of CJ Group, a pa

Monday’s weather will be cloudy and hazy in general and rainy at times across the country, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The weather agency said Monday cool weather will prevail across the country with the lowest temperature this morning in Seoul at minus 2 degrees Celsius and highest expected to be 4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 7 degrees Celsius in Gwangju, and 10 degrees Celsius in Busan.  (Yonhap)Occasional light rain or snow is predicted for this afternoon and tonight a