South Korea’s Kakao strikes deal for limited-hours carpool, ends taxi union protests

FILE PHOTO: The Kakao messaging application and the Kakao T taxi booking application are seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration

SEOUL: South Korea's Kakao Mobility has struck a deal with taxi unions that will allow it to run a car-sharing service for four hours daily on weekdays, marking an end to protests by cab drivers who had complained the service would destroy their livelihoods. 

The unit of Kakao Corp, operator of the most popular chat app in the country, proposed launching the car-sharing service last year, but was not able to start it amid fierce protests. In fact, two taxi drivers died in separate incidents by self-immolation.