Thousands of taxi drivers are expected to go on a one-day strike next week, demanding that the government come up with measures to support their business from soaring fuel prices.

For 24 hours from midnight Wednesday, more than half of the country’s 200,000 taxi workers from several unions will not drive, union officials said.

They demand that the government alleviate the growing burden of fuel costs through an outright reduction of liquefied petroleum gas prices, wider access to the cheaper compressed natural gas, or provide financial subsidies.

“Our livelihoods are threatened because of high gas prices and a supply glut in the taxi market,” said Kim Do-gil, an official from a taxi union.

To minimize the strike’s possible impact, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to increase the number of subway trains and buses on Wednesday and Thursday. It will also extend the operating hours of the subway to 2 a.m. on Thursday morning.

(wone0102@heraldcorp.com)