Daejeon's "Bread Taxi," which had suspended operations due to administrative and legal issues, has resumed service after converting to a premium taxi classification.
According to Daejeon Metropolitan City and other sources on the 6th, driver Ahn Sung-woo (64), who operates the nation's only "Bread Taxi," resumed operations in March after registering as a "premium taxi."
The Bread Taxi is a tourism-oriented taxi service that tours Daejeon's famous bakeries. The vehicle interior features a menu board introducing bakery tour routes, a foldable table for eating, and bread-shaped decorations throughout.
Wearing a beret, Ahn greets reserved passengers with a "welcome kit" containing a Daejeon bakery guidebook, plates, utensils, and wet wipes, then guides them through the city's renowned bakeries. At the tour's conclusion, passengers receive a "Breadtican Pilgrimage Certificate," a concept inspired by the Vatican and Daejeon's status as a "holy land of bread."
The Bread Taxi launched in November last year and gained popularity through word-of-mouth among bread enthusiasts nationwide. Its main appeal was enabling visitors to access Daejeon's famous bakery "Sungsimdang" without long waits. However, operations were halted later that month for violating the Passenger Transport Service Act, which requires taxis to charge fares based on meters. The service's practice of charging approximately 30,000 won per hour per group was cited as problematic.
During the roughly three-month suspension, Ahn and Daejeon city officials negotiated a solution and decided to utilize the "premium taxi" system.
Premium taxis were introduced in Daejeon in 2024 to accommodate various transportation needs including tourism and airport transfers. Operators can set and register their own fares, and vehicles must have engines of at least 2,800cc, exceeding the 1,900cc requirement for model taxis.
Ahn obtained a private taxi license, purchased a vehicle, and completed Daejeon's premium taxi registration process. With the Bread Taxi's addition, Daejeon now has eight premium taxis in operation, up from seven.
The Bread Taxi's operations and pricing remain unchanged. "The fare is a promise to customers, so even if prices and fuel costs rise later, I will maintain the current level," Ahn said. "My goal is to create precious memories for passengers."
After receiving the suspension order, Ahn operated the Bread Taxi free of charge for approximately three months to honor existing reservations. As customer reviews spread across social media, the Bread Taxi established itself as Daejeon tourism content, with reservations now fully booked through late July.
Riding his newfound fame, Ahn has signed an advertising contract with a major domestic confectionery company. "Once the Bread Taxi is more established, I want to help struggling fellow drivers and then introduce customers to hidden local bakeries and restaurants," he said.
Daejeon city is reviewing measures to promote the Bread Taxi as a regional tourism service. "Given that Daejeon is known as a 'city of bread,' the Bread Taxi serves as excellent tourism content promoting our city," a city official said. "We are reviewing ways to promote the Bread Taxi, including relaxing taxi operation standards and conditions."
