A video of a Korean taxi driver refusing Chinese passengers and cursing at them has garnered attention online.

The video was uploaded on an internet community on Wednesday. It showed a middle-aged driver forcing two Chinese women to get off his cab for refusing to pay extra fare.

“I know you, every time. Every month we’re here, you say no (ride),” shouts one of the women, to which the driver responds “I’ll hit you, you disrespectful (expletive).” 

He was seen shouting profanities several times, particularly at the woman who recorded the incident and his car registration plate with her phone.

A 31-year-old man surnamed Ma, who identified himself as the husband of one of the women, said his wife has had similar experiences over 10 times. According to him, the incident took place at Dongdaemun shopping district at around 4:30 a.m.

“It is common for Chinese people to be rejected (by cab drivers) at nighttime. ... My wife even paid 30,000 won ($25.61) for a 4,000 won fare,” he said.

He said his wife – a 30-year-old woman surnamed Wang -- was even threatened to be hit by one of the drivers.

“Generally the drivers, who have a fixed fare among them, give a card that says they will charge extra at nighttime. Foreigners give up complaining and just pay the fare,” Ma said.

Hailing a cab late at night is often a daunting task, with many drivers cherry-picking passengers to maximize profits. Around the busy districts of Dongdaemun, Gangnam and Itaewon, taxis asking potential passengers where their destination is and driving away without another word is a common sight.

According to the Anti-corruption and Civil Rights Commission, 47.9 percent of such cases occur between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., while 99 percent of cases take place in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport last year introduced a “three-strike rule” for drivers caught refusing rides, stripping third-time offenders of their taxi permit.

Those who have been refused rides can call Dasan Call Center at 120 to report the incident. The reports can be made in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Mongolian. 

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)