Kakao Mobility, a unit of South Korea’s top mobile messenger operator Kakao Corp., has launched test service of its carpool app despite strong opposition from local taxi drivers.

Kakao Mobility said on Friday that it began test service in the beta version of its carpool app by selecting random users. During the test service period, drivers registered with the app will be allowed to serve up to two carpools a day without time limit. The base fare for customers will be 3,000 won ($2.67) per 2 kilometers.

After 10 days of test operation, the mobility company plans to open the official service on Dec. 17. More than 50,000 carpool drivers have registered with the carpool app after Kakao Mobility began recruitment in October.

The operations come despite fierce opposition from taxi drivers, who fear that Kakao Mobility’s new carpooling service would threaten their livelihoods and taxi industry. They held rallies demanding the company to scrap its plan for the carpool service app.

Under the country’s transport law, ride-hailing service using personal cars, such as that of Uber, is illegal, but carpooling during “commuting hours” is permitted.

Kakao Mobility reiterated that its service is different from that of Uber, which had to halt services in June, 2013, in Korea. Uber was forced to be out of the official business in Korea because its services that matched its registered drivers with a passenger on demand based on global positioning system and offered 24 hours including commuting hours were against the country’s Passenger Transport Service Act.

Taxi drivers, however, claim that Kakao’s mobile carpooling service should too be considered illegal given that private drivers receive payments from passengers and therefore should be prohibited by law. They also demand action from the political circle to enhance related regulations.

Kakao Mobility, meanwhile, on Friday unveiled safety measures for its carpool service users, including a 112 text message reporting service allowing passengers to press a button in case of emergency, and biometric recognition of tested and registered drivers in prior to operations. The company will also run a 24-hour safety control center and adopt a two-way evaluation system involving users and drivers, which will limit service use of those with low scores.

By Lee Dong-in and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]