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Filipino taxi driver suspended after overcharging K-pop star Soobin in Cebu

Footage from the TXT member shows the driver demanding more than triple the usual price of a trip from the airport

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Choi Soo-bin is a member of K-pop group Tomorrow X Together, or TXT. Photo: Handout
The Korea Times
A Filipino taxi driver who attempted to overcharge a member of K-pop group TXT has been suspended from operating, after the incident sparked backlash both in South Korea and the Philippines.
According to a report aired on Monday on JTBC’s Chief Investigator, TXT member Choi Soo-bin, known mononymously as Soobin, was targeted in a taxi fare scam while travelling in Cebu, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines.

The incident was originally revealed on Wednesday through the group’s official YouTube channel, where Choi shared footage of a trip to Cebu with a friend. After arriving at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the two took a taxi to their accommodation.

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Before boarding, Choi had checked that the expected fare was around 300 pesos (US$5). However, the driver initially demanded 500 pesos, then raised the price mid-ride, claiming fuel costs were high and asking for 1,000 pesos.

A screengrab from Choi Soo-bin’s footage shows him confronting the taxi driver. Photo: YouTube/TXT
A screengrab from Choi Soo-bin’s footage shows him confronting the taxi driver. Photo: YouTube/TXT

The driver continued to push for a higher fare, but after a tense exchange, Choi ultimately agreed to pay 500 pesos – still significantly above the expected price.

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