By Min Yea-Ji and Kim Hwaya

Waygo Blue, an app-based taxi hailing service, started pilot operations on March 20 in Seoul.

Launched by platform technology company Kakao Mobility and taxi franchise Tago Solutions, Waygo Blue searches for a taxi within five seconds of a passenger's request through the Kakao T app. The cab driver is not shown the destination to prevent him or her from refusing passengers.

Waygo Blue taxis also feature air purifiers, smartphone chargers and the option for a passenger to listen to his or her music playlist.

Also slated for launch is the reservation-only service Waygo Lady, which features female cabbies who can pick up female passengers only as well as boys under age 8.

Waygo Lady and Waygo Blue will officially launch service next month with 100 taxis in Seoul and Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province. The number will eventually be expanded to 3,000.

Other services such as pet transportation, support for special needs users, and small errands and business operations will debut in the second half of the year.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, "The government will give full support to dramatically improve taxi service connected to Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and take bold steps through deregulation."


jesimin@korea.kr