A scene showing a member of a Korean idol group being charged a "rip-off fare" after taking a taxi in the Philippines was made public, prompting even the local government to respond.
On Apr. 6, the entertainment industry said that Soobin, a member of TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), posted a travel video on his YouTube channel on Apr. 1 about a trip to Cebu, a representative resort destination in the Philippines.
In the video, Soobin was shown traveling around Cebu with friends and having a good time. But the incident occurred when he took a taxi to get from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to his lodging.
Before getting in the taxi, Soobin confirmed an estimated fare of 300 pesos (about 7,500 won), but the taxi driver demanded 500 pesos. After departure, the driver even tried to raise the fare to 1,000 pesos, but after an argument, they agreed on paying 500 pesos.
Looking at the camera, Soobin said, "Even 500 pesos is already paying extra."
As Soobin's video was released, Philippine media reported on the incident, fueling controversy. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) under the Department of Transportation said on Apr. 3 that it demanded the taxi driver who charged the rip-off fare immediately surrender the vehicle's license plate and the driver's license, and imposed a 30-day preventive suspension.
The LTFRB said, "The taxi driver excessively charged the fare and deliberately did not use the meter during the ride," adding, "This is a serious offense that tarnished our country's honor in the international community."
It also said that, depending on the results of the investigation, it is considering criminal penalties and vehicle impoundment for the taxi driver.