Seoul's orange cabs

Seoul is planning to change the color of its taxis to orange, actually a hue of orange found in Korean aesthetic works. Apparently the Korea National Tourism Organization has "suggested" certain hues to be used in city affairs, especially those involving tourism. 

Taxis in Seoul are a mishmash of colors, black for deluxe mobǒm taxis, and white, gray, or silver for the regular taxis. Years and years ago, I think they were a light green, like that found in the color scheme. At some point I think they were also yellow, and some used to be white with a blue stripe (?). Most of them sported side mirrors that were placed not next to the driver's and front-passenger's windows, but way up on the front of the car, a little bit behind the headlights (that way the driver could look into them without turning his head). 

Anyway, back to the orange taxis... I'm quite happy they're doing this, and not just because taxis that look like orange sherbet & cream should stand out better when you're trying to flag down a cab. Right now the taxis look no different from all the black, white, silver, and gray privately owned vehicles that ply Seoul streets. 

The other big reason is that I'm tired of drunk people trying to jump into my car while I'm in the right lane getting ready to  turn into my neighborhood. Living near Seoul Station and Namyŏng-dong, which have more than their share of late-night revelers reveling late at night, people would assume that my white Hyundai Sonata was a taxi. 

I kid you not: I was constantly getting people shout destinations at me as I slowly drove by or, worse, actually open my door and try to get in. Even after saying (in Korean) that I am indeed not a cab driver and this vehicle they were halfway in was not a taxi, some would insist I drive them home. (Only once did I actually drive anyone home; it was a very snowy night and a woman who had been waiting for over an hour for a car literally jumped in front of my car and begged me to drive her and her drunk friend to the nearest subway station, which I did.)

I thought that when we (my company) purchased a black Kia Carnival minivan, this would end. But then they came out with the "jumbo taxi" (점보택시), typically a black minivan. For those desperate around midnight to get home, trying to jump into my pimped-out minivan seemed like a good option. 

So bring on the Great Pumpkins. Sure, I think I might prefer the red-themed taxis found in Hong Kong (below), but I think I could get used to the tangerine taxis. They can call them kyulshi (귤시)! [hat tip to Marmot]