Fatal taxi crash reignites debate over elderly drivers

Firefighters inspect the site of a traffic accident near Jonggak subway station in central Seoul on Jan. 2, 2026. YonhapSEOUL, January 4 (AJP) - A deadly traffic accident in central Seoul last Friday has reignited debates about elderly taxi drivers after a man in his late 70s rammed his taxi into two vehicles near Jonggak subway station during the evening rush hour, killing one pedestrian and injuring about a dozen others.

According to police, the man showed no signs of drunk driving but tested positive for morphine in an initial test. Authorities said morphine can also be found after taking certain cold medications.

The fatal accident has raised concern over the growing number of elderly taxi drivers in South Korea, as the country officially became a "super-aged society" last month, with those aged 65 and older accounting for more than 20 percent of the population for the first time, according to demographic data released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The taxi industry starkly reflects this aging demographic trend, with drivers in their 20s and 30s now a rarity and elderly drivers dominating the workforce.

Data from the state-run Korea Transportation Safety Authority showed that more than 55 percent or 91,000 of 164,000 self-employed cab drivers were aged 65 or older as of October last year. The figure rose to 76 percent when including those over 60, while drivers under 30 accounted for just 0.04 percent. Those in their 30s made up 0.71 percent, drivers in their 40s 4.9 percent, and those in their 50s 18.1 percent.

The situation is similar among drivers employed by corporate taxi companies.

Industry insiders cite low wages compared with heavy workloads as the main reason young workers are staying away. Corporate-employed cab drivers earn less than 3 million won ($2,200) per month on average, while self-employed drivers in Seoul typically make around 4 million won, often after working long hours.

"Taxi drivers can make over 5 million won a month if they push themselves by extending shifts, but it often comes at the cost of their health," one industry insider said. He also cited additional risks such as frequent abuse from passengers, which has led many young workers to opt instead for platform jobs like delivery, where earnings are higher.

Many experts say luring younger workers requires concrete incentives, while restricting elderly drivers without alternative measures would face strong resistance.

"There are many stull-healthy drivers in their 60s and 70s," a taxi industry representative said. "South Korea is aging as a whole. You can't single out taxi drivers without addressing the broader structural problem."

Meanwhile, traffic accidents involving elderly drivers rose from around 4,100 in 2015 to about 7,200 in 2024, jumping from 9.9 percent to 21.7 percent of all accidents, according to a report by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

To encourage the elderly to voluntarily turn in their driving license, the city government has been offering incentives since 2019, as they are more prone to traffic accidents than young drivers due to slower reactions and declining driving skills.
Lee Hugh