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Kakao Mobility indicted in South Korea over alleged taxi call-blocking scheme

( January 27, 2026, 07:30 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Kakao Mobility was indicted along with its CEO and two executives after prosecutors said the company abused its dominant position in the taxi app “general call” market through a call-blocking scheme that targeted smaller franchise rivals. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office said that from February 2021 to December 2023, the company demanded fees or the provision of business secrets, including departure and route information, from four smaller franchise operators, and blocked their affiliated drivers from using Kakao T’s general-call service when those operators refused. Prosecutors said their probe, launched after a Korea Fair Trade Commission complaint and backed by search-and-seizure raids, found the conduct was planned and executed to strengthen Kakao Mobility’s market power in app-based taxi hailing. The office said the blocks reduced affected drivers’ operating income and caused major harm, with some smaller franchise competitors ultimately suspending their franchise taxi business.The statement is attached (in Korean)....

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