South Korean YouTuber sparks tuk tuk fare controversy in Thailand

[webfact]

South Korean rapper and YouTuber, Il Hong Min, commonly known as Phi Hong, recently aired his dissatisfaction with a tuk tuk service encountered during his visit to Ayutthaya, Thailand. In a video shared on his Oppa Hong channel, he revealed that he was charged 1,200 baht for a four-hour tour, a service he claimed was forcefully sold to him and his friend by the 59 year old tuk tuk driver, Somjit Tharangam.

 

Somjit allegedly also asserted that Grab taxi services were illegal in the area, a claim Hong found surprising, having used the service during his numerous trips to Thailand over the past two decades.

 

The video, which forms part of Hong’s journey through Thailand’s 77 provinces, prompted a response from a local Facebook page, Ayutthaya Station. It urged relevant authorities to investigate the incident, citing potential harm to the image of Thailand’s tourism sector, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Following this, the Ayutthaya Provincial Land Transport Office directed transport officials, including the deputy district chief and provincial Tourist Police, to examine the issue involving the local tuk tuk service.

The investigation concluded that the fare Somjit charged was in line with the pricing standard established by joint committees during the administration of the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order, as affirmed by Kannika Rerkukot, head of the transportation academic group. However, Rerkukot pointed out that Somjit’s forceful sales approach could have compelled the passengers to purchase the service against their will.

In light of this, Rerkukot announced plans for a meeting with tuk tuk operators and associated agencies to discuss a more reasonable fare rate for tuk tuk services. Furthermore, she ordered Tharangam and her colleagues operating near the Ayutthaya Railway Station to partake in an attitude adjustment session at the provincial land transport office. This is aimed at improving their customer relations approach.

 

Rerkukot also advised all tuk tuk drivers to display their price tags visibly to allow tourists to discern the costs clearly, stressing that these prices must adhere to fare rate regulations. In addition, she instructed Somjit to dismantle the Tourist Police logo placed on the price rate tag, as it was an inappropriate use of the symbol.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Oppa Hong (YouTube)

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-28

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, Rerkukot pointed out that Somjit’s forceful sales approach could have compelled the passengers to purchase the service against their will.

Equally so, the forceful tactics could have compelled the Korean to simply walk away..

 

1220 baht for a 4hr TukTuk sight seeing trip doesn’t seem excessive & every first timer wants their TukTuk experience….

 

Perhaps negotiate a 100 baht fare the the Grand Palace next time… 

 

 

[flyingtlger]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Rerkukot also advised all tuk tuk drivers to display their price tags visibly to allow tourists to discern the costs clearly

LOL, when hell freezes over.....

[TroubleandGrumpy]

While all these tourism related services remain under the control of the unaccountable local Authorities, nothing will change.  The Thai Federal/National Government needs to subsume the overall authority of all industries and services (especially ttransport) that directly affects tourism.  Not to run them - but to make the rules and direct the local authorities that they must adhere to their set guidlines of behaviours etc. or face dismissal.  Recently there was a 'voluntary' meeting held of the boat operators in and around Phuket - the very fact that it was necessary and had not been done 'properly' by the local authorities already speaks volumes. When local authorities become liable for the behaviour of the toursim related industries in thgeir District/Province, then and only then will substantive change take place. But who an I kidding - that is logicval and makes sense - aint gonna float here in Thailand. 

[mikebell]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

Tourist Police logo placed on the price rate tag, as it was an inappropriate use of the symbol.

Meanwhile in Pattaya not ONE taximeter ever works thanks to the 'arrangement' with the local Plod.

[Yagoda]

Folks with half a brain dont take TukTuks

[Sluglord]

21 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

1220 baht for a 4hr TukTuk sight seeing trip doesn’t seem excessive

 I totally agree

 

In the heat no less.

 

Tourist, tourist area, tourist price.

[stoner]

32 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

1220 baht for a 4hr TukTuk sight seeing trip doesn’t seem excessive & every first timer wants their TukTuk experience….

 

i don't see what the fuss is all about. that comes out to about 300b per hour. try and get a tuk tuk to take you 200 feet in patong for 300b. a motorcycle taxi is 100b in patong to go half a kilometer. 

 

tuk tuk is a tourist attraction.....a few years ago i paid 20 dollars for a hot dog and a coke in NYC  at 5th ave out in front of the park. my son loved it :)

[couchpotato]

20 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Meanwhile in Pattaya not ONE taximeter ever works thanks to the 'arrangement' with the local Plod.

With Bolt, Grab, Motocyc, baht bus and independant airport taxis where do taximeters even come into the equation😲

[richard_smith237]

13 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Folks with half a brain dont take TukTuks

Wrong, folks with half a brain don’t make such flawed sweeping generalizations!!! 🤭

 

Tourists want the ‘tuktuk experience….  It’s part of the Thailand experience… coming here & not going in a TukTuk would seem as if something is missed. 
 

The issue is not the tourists, it’s the unregulation, the lies, the cheating & in this case the overzealous hard sell which appease to have intimidated the ‘wet’ tourists. 
 

[couchpotato]

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

South Korean rapper and YouTuber, Il Hong Min, commonly known as Phi Hong, recently aired his dissatisfaction with a tuk tuk service encountered during his visit to Ayutthaya, Thailand. In a video shared on his Oppa Hong channel, he revealed that he was charged 1,200 baht for a four-hour tour, a service he claimed was forcefully sold to him and his friend by the 59 year old tuk tuk driver, Somjit Tharangam.

 

Somjit allegedly also asserted that Grab taxi services were illegal in the area, a claim Hong found surprising, having used the service during his numerous trips to Thailand over the past two decades.

 

The video, which forms part of Hong’s journey through Thailand’s 77 provinces, prompted a response from a local Facebook page, Ayutthaya Station. It urged relevant authorities to investigate the incident, citing potential harm to the image of Thailand’s tourism sector, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Following this, the Ayutthaya Provincial Land Transport Office directed transport officials, including the deputy district chief and provincial Tourist Police, to examine the issue involving the local tuk tuk service.

The investigation concluded that the fare Somjit charged was in line with the pricing standard established by joint committees during the administration of the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order, as affirmed by Kannika Rerkukot, head of the transportation academic group. However, Rerkukot pointed out that Somjit’s forceful sales approach could have compelled the passengers to purchase the service against their will.

In light of this, Rerkukot announced plans for a meeting with tuk tuk operators and associated agencies to discuss a more reasonable fare rate for tuk tuk services. Furthermore, she ordered Tharangam and her colleagues operating near the Ayutthaya Railway Station to partake in an attitude adjustment session at the provincial land transport office. This is aimed at improving their customer relations approach.

 

Rerkukot also advised all tuk tuk drivers to display their price tags visibly to allow tourists to discern the costs clearly, stressing that these prices must adhere to fare rate regulations. In addition, she instructed Somjit to dismantle the Tourist Police logo placed on the price rate tag, as it was an inappropriate use of the symbol.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Oppa Hong (YouTube)

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-28

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

South Korean hiso bs for sensationalism. For starters 1200 for a 4 hour tour is quite acceptable, and secondly if he felt it was excessive then negotiate or try another guy (or get on his Grab app). 

[Roo Island]

36 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Folks with half a brain dont take TukTuks

We take them all the time. Wifey is really good at negotiating the rate. Otherwise, like you say, a rip off.

[Yagoda]

 

48 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Wrong, folks with half a brain don’t make such flawed sweeping generalizations!!! 🤭

 

Tourists want the ‘tuktuk experience….  It’s part of the Thailand experience… coming here & not going in a TukTuk would seem as if something is missed. 
 

The issue is not the tourists, it’s the unregulation, the lies, the cheating & in this case the overzealous hard sell which appease to have intimidated the ‘wet’ tourists. 
 

There are "tourist experiences" that will kill you and others that will rip you off. Some both. Darwin rules, seems like you lack even half a brain.

37 minutes ago, Roo Island said:

We take them all the time. Wifey is really good at negotiating the rate. Otherwise, like you say, a rip off.

Thai people can use them just fine. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

 

There are "tourist experiences" that will kill you and others that will rip you off. Some both. Darwin rules, seems like you lack even half a brain.

 

That response is so dumb it’s entertaining!!

 

Tourists using TukTuks have half a brain or you mean I only have half a brain for suggestion the use of TukTuks is one of Thailands tourist attractions…??? 

 

Darwin does indeed ‘usually’ rule, you should thank your parents for slipping one past the goalie !!!! 🤣
 

 

 

[Korat Kiwi]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Folks with half a brain dont take TukTuks

Australians DO take TukTuks... 

[bkk6060]

The price is not that excessive.

But, taking them is stupid I think.

Sitting in traffic, exposed, hot, smelly, loud, dangerous.  They should be banned.  Sit in one only, take a photo and give the driver 20 b for all your friends to see back home.

[ikke1959]

It is not too expensive in my opinion, but it is free to accept the deal or not. If you don't want to pay or pay less negotiate or cancel it... Anyway Koreans and Thais are not a good match at this moment, and probably it is a part of it

[AAArdvark]

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Folks with half a brain dont take TukTuks

From the picture does not appear to be a tuk tuk more like a songthaew

[spidermike007]

1. The price is perfectly fair, 300 Baht per hour for a private tuk tuk tour is totally reasonable, so the only one that this YouTuber has the blame is himself for being so spectacularly ignorant to begin with. 

 

2. Why are some Thais so incredibly thin skinned and sensitive when it comes to criticism about their culture or their tourism industry? The nature of social media is that people are going to vent, people are going to say things. They're also going to praise Thailand there's an equal number of podcasts that are praising Thailand day and night. So, people are going to complain about Thailand, what is the big deal? Why do these silly, small minded people get so up in arms about somebody complaining about Thailand? Oh my God, it's going to destroy the tourism industry. Really? Can you imagine being so small-minded that you actually have thoughts like that? It's tragic, it's nothing short of tragic. 

 

These people desperately need to figure out a way to get a life. 

[Mavideol]

this SK guy has to be careful, and better go back home before they start the "defamation" lawsuit  555

[wensiensheng]

Here we go, first of  an anticipated bunch of anti Korean stories in the thai press. Get those patriotic juices flowing.

[briando]

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Folks with half a brain dont take TukTuks

Exactly, why would you want to take one in 36 deg heat and swallow all the car and truck exhausts

[Jake72]

Negotiating the fare is part of the authentic TukTuk experience. Expect to pay the same (or more) than a nice Toyota airconditioned taxi.

[sampson]

I did this with a Thai lady in 2019 and the price was around 400 baht, no more than 500 baht, so does seem to have gone up a lot.  The guy actually dropped us off at her house way out of town for that price too.

 

But you can always say no and walk away if you don't like the price. It's pointless to agree and complain later.  

 

I'm pretty sure at the corner where soi farang meets the road that has the hotel Ayotaya that they have the fares published 

 

 

[zhounan]

1200 baht for 4 hours of tuk tuk? That doesn't seem excessive.

 

This peal skin guy is just looking for visibility

 

[thesetat]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Equally so, the forceful tactics could have compelled the Korean to simply walk away..

 

1220 baht for a 4hr TukTuk sight seeing trip doesn’t seem excessive & every first timer wants their TukTuk experience….

 

Perhaps negotiate a 100 baht fare the the Grand Palace next time… 

 

 

I did that once... negotiated a deal to take me back to my hotel. Enroute the driver decided I needed more girls and more to drink and began taking me to different places that serviced mens uhh needs... Even though I kept saying no and demanding to take me to my hotel as agreed. After an hour driving around the driver finally pulled up to my hotel and then demanded 1000 baht more than agreed. stating he showed me around to where all those places were and wanted to be paid for it. After a few minutes arguing he finally took the 100 baht that was initially agreed upon. If i was not so strong-willed the driver would have scared me to pay it I think. They can be intimidating and violent easily. 

[richard_smith237]

When I first came here with friend (early 20's), we'd already been made aware of the scams etc....

 

So...  When a TukTuk approached us and offered to give us a tour of the City (Banglamphu area) for 25 baht we agreed...

We told him, its go, go to the Tailors and Jewellers... thats ok, but also take us to some decent stuff.

 

So... we did stop off at a load of Tailors and get hassled to buy a crappy suit, a silk shirt or a funky tie... and we did stop off at jewlers and get offered discoloured quartz and emeralds and rubys etc...   All part of the fun, we knew we were not going to buy anything...

 

... But, we saw some sights and got a feel and a smell of that area of the city...  I can't remember, but we ended up giving the driver about 200 baht... we were with him for about 3 or 4 hours...  if I'm not mistake, he got his fuel tokens etc for delivering us to the various shops etc... 

 

BUT... had the guy been even remotely pushy, it would have simply been a no go....  anyone gets pushy and the only response is walk away.

 

 

I recall in India, we'd hired a driver the 5 days we were there (not only to get us around but as a filter for all the relentless hassle a tourist gets there - and it is relentless, its exhausting)....   I recall getting  rick-shaw around the spice market (in Delhi) and this guy jumped on the back and started rabbiting on endlessly...   I stopped the rickshaw and told the rider that his companion is getting no money, and we'll get off if he doesn't get rid of him... It worked and the rest of the journey through the maze of the spice market was as peaceful as it can be without a guy rabbiting on at full volume 10cm behind our heads... 

 

In short - its ok to speak up, but also be prepared to just walk away - all of us know this. 

I'm wondering why the Korean didn't simply walk away too.

 

[SuwadeeS]

It the own fault of Thailand.

This Tuktuk are mostly scam.

I know for over 25 years.

The S Korean youtuber's only react to an action.

If the government would have fone a proper crackdown on these ongoing TukTuk Scammers, then there would be a different reaction.

 

Thailand wake up!!

Crackdown these Tultuk scammers who are the real bad guys who damage your reputation.

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, thesetat said:

If i was not so strong-willed the driver would have scared me to pay it I think. They can be intimidating and violent easily. 

 

Indeed....  Phuket used to be especially good at this...

 

Negotiate a TukTuk home after boosy evening... 4 of you in the TukTuk and he quotes 300 baht....  Fair enough.

You get to your destination and he's asking for 1200 baht, the 300 baht was each !!! - cheeky-feckers.... the issue of course is that they know they can turn to violence and get away with it so they escalate very very quickly....

 

So.. the above never happened to me... BUT... the try to be misleading - i.e. TukTuk... ok 200 baht.... 200 baht each, or for all of us... 200 baht...   each or all ?... 200 baht... Its very difficult to get them not to be vague and I'm sure while on the journey the work out how they can extort more.

 

So... Yeah... I avoid TukTuks wherever possible, but recall, last time I was in Phuket, speaking Thai with them the rides and pricing was actually very smooth, no hassles, so I think its only the new tourists who are getting stung.

 

 

 

[fallup88]

The only excessive thing is him making the video and complaining. He is a YouTuber and actually very popular to Thais.

 

He grew up in Thailand and is well aware of tourist prices charged to foreigners actually. But again, it wasn’t even a rip off price. So for him to film it for the sake of his video and getting views he should be condemn, he could have walked away - but then there would be no video if he simply walk away.