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omonatheydidOn Wednesday, prosecutors in South Korea charged Kalanick and the head of the company’s South Korean car-rental partner, MK Korea, in connection with licensing laws that forbid rental car companies from operating taxi services, the South Korean news agency Yonhap said on Wednesday. The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of roughly $18,000. The indictment is thought to be the first time that Kalanick has actually been charged with such a violation, the New York Times reports. And according to Bloomberg, people who “provide information on Uber’s services” starting next week could get rewarded with up to 1 million won, or $905.
Seoul made clear that it would be taking a hard line on the ride service. Back in July, the city declared Uber illegal under South Korean law and said it would seek to ban the company. Paid transportation with unregistered vehicles is “clearly illegal activity,” South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Local officials added that by December they would roll out their own app to provide most functions of Uber for official taxis (though that doesn't seem to have happened yet).
Uber, which according to its website operates in 53 countries, started its service in Seoul in 2013. It competes with local taxi-hailing apps such as NaviCall, run by a unit of the nation’s largest mobile phone carrier SK Telecom Co., which connects users with registered taxis.
In the meantime, Uber, in fine Uber fashion, plans to continue operating in South Korea despite the charges. (It took a similar approach in Germany, and was rewarded when a nationwide ban lasted all of two weeks.) The company said in a statement that it “respects the Korean legal system and will provide its full cooperation,” but added it “firmly believe[s]” its service is “not only legal in Korea” but also is being “welcomed and supported by customers.”
Source: Slate, New York Times, Bloomberg
Two years in jail for licensing law violations vs. how much for rape?
Seoul made clear that it would be taking a hard line on the ride service. Back in July, the city declared Uber illegal under South Korean law and said it would seek to ban the company. Paid transportation with unregistered vehicles is “clearly illegal activity,” South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Local officials added that by December they would roll out their own app to provide most functions of Uber for official taxis (though that doesn't seem to have happened yet).
Uber, which according to its website operates in 53 countries, started its service in Seoul in 2013. It competes with local taxi-hailing apps such as NaviCall, run by a unit of the nation’s largest mobile phone carrier SK Telecom Co., which connects users with registered taxis.
In the meantime, Uber, in fine Uber fashion, plans to continue operating in South Korea despite the charges. (It took a similar approach in Germany, and was rewarded when a nationwide ban lasted all of two weeks.) The company said in a statement that it “respects the Korean legal system and will provide its full cooperation,” but added it “firmly believe[s]” its service is “not only legal in Korea” but also is being “welcomed and supported by customers.”
Source: Slate, New York Times, Bloomberg
Two years in jail for licensing law violations vs. how much for rape?
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Date: 2014-12-29 08:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-29 10:20 am (UTC)and their ceo is messy
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Date: 2014-12-29 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-31 11:31 am (UTC)What makes the company so bad?
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Date: 2014-12-31 04:33 pm (UTC)http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2014/11/18/the-scarier-problem-with-uber/
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102268278