택시 플랫폼(호출 서비스) 거래실태 및 개선방안

In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, with the revitalization of smartphones, it has various channels and is facing a new environment where the boundaries between online and offline areas disappear due to the advent of technologies such as sensor-based beacons. The so-called Online to Offline (O2O) industry is growing. O2O refers to a new business model that stimulates consumers' purchases through marketing that literally connects online and offline to integrate consumption channels. With the growth of the O2O industry, taxi platforms that call taxis through mobile apps are rapidly spreading into daily consumption. The use of taxi applications (taxi platforms) that allow simple taxi calls by entering the departure and destination in advance is also increasing. Instead of catching a taxi with your hands up on the street, calling a taxi with a smartphone taxi calling app has become more familiar. A considerable number of calls are made using Kakao Taxi. Consumers can check real-time calling vehicle information and estimated fees through the taxi platform and use the service through the automatic payment function in the app. Currently, Kakao T, which has the highest market share, has a nationwide taxi driver subscription rate of 92.8% (220,000 out of 240,000), and Kakao T's monthly active users (MAU) reached 10.16 million as of August 2021. At a time when the number of taxi calls using Kakao T is increasing, the abuse of the platform monopoly by Kakao, which operates the so-called taxi platform, is often reported in the media. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately understand the specific method of calling and using taxis through Kakao T and the current state of dissatisfaction of consumers who are customers in such use, and to regulate unfair trade practices using so-called platforms. In particular, algorithm information for the call allocation scheme needs to be disclosed. The algorithm information itself is a trade secret of a company, so it is not necessary to disclose all of it, but at least information about the vehicle allocation method should be disclosed. It is a question of whether there is discrimination against allocation by rating or grade. Many taxi drivers recognize that there is discrimination against allotment by rating or grade. Ratings for taxi drivers, or evaluation scores, may be necessary for good service. However, if fairness and objectivity are not guaranteed, discrimination based on the evaluation should also be recognized as violence. Therefore, the data-based algorithm system, such as driver's score, number of completed operations, and past vehicle allocation acceptance rates, also needs to be disclosed in more detail. In addition, the calling fee for the taxi platform has been 6 : 4 between taxi operators and the platform for the existing calling fee of 1,000 won. In a situation where the call fee has changed from 1,000 won to 5,000 won, information on how the call fee is distributed needs to be disclosed. The act of not informing passengers clearly about the cancellation fee is also an act that violates the interests of consumers. The Fair Trade Commission shall continue to conduct fact-finding surveys, monitoring the relevant markets, and, if necessary, prepare standard articles of incorporation to eradicate unfair practices in the taxi platform market.