VOX POPULI: Professionalism will be the key to successful ride
“How did you get here? I heard all the roads to Gwangju are blocked,” a local reporter asks a German journalist in a South Korean city where students had been brutally cracked down upon while protesting.
“I came by taxi,” the German answers quietly.
This is a memorable scene from “A Taxi Driver,” which is based on a true story that occurred during the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.
While local news companies are banned from reporting freely, a Seoul taxi driver manages to bring the foreign journalist to Gwangju through side roads.
Popular actor Song Kang-ho gives a great performance as the driver.
He complains about how the martial law imposed is ruining his business and resorts to cheating for money.
Still, he can’t just stand by and watch people in trouble. He feels righteous indignation and finds himself doing his utmost to deliver the journalist to his destination.
The German journalist recalls his experience, saying: “Without him, news of the Gwangju Uprising would have never reached the world.”
Without his quick thinking as a professional driver, it would have been difficult for the journalist to cover stories in Gwangju.
Reporters are often supported by such individual professionalism to uncover the truth.
A ride-sharing service started in Tokyo on April 8, allowing ordinary people to use their own cars, not taxis, to transport customers.
This change was introduced in response to a serious shortage of taxis. But it seems there are concerns about whether drivers will work with a due sense of professionalism and whether they can assure safety.
I wanted to give it a try and see how it worked.
I tried to hail a ride-sharing vehicle, but I couldn’t find any available cars.
It was probably because only a few vehicles were driving around.
I’d like to carefully see how it will change our lives, with expectations in my mind.
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 9
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Related articles
President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador discuss migration in latest call
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden spoke with his Mexican counterpart, Andrés Manuel López Obrado2024-04-30Wang Xinyu saves 10 match points in Madrid thriller
Wang Xinyu produced a brave fightback to win her first round match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis t2024-04-30Rewind. Fast forward. African farmers are looking everywhere to navigate climate change
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in2024-04-30Sam Cam in fresh row over her 'shocking' refusal to make her clothes in Britain
A new row has erupted over Lord Cameron's fashion designer wife Samantha's 'shocking' refusal to mak2024-04-30Top Chinese diplomat meets with executive secretary of ESCAP
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of United2024-04-30How Rageh Omaar refused ITV chiefs' request to hand his bulletin over to a stand
ITV news bosses tried to get its presenter Rageh Omaar to hand over his bulletin to a stand-in ancho2024-04-30
atest comment