Noh Hong Chul stunned by 420,000 won taxi fare in Germany

Entertainer Noh Hong Chul could not hide his bewilderment at an unexpectedly high taxi fare during his trip to Germany. A video released on the YouTube channel 'Noh Hong Chul' on the 6th captures his journey, from losing his passport while riding a bike on a German highway to resolving the situation and traveling to the airport.

The incident began on a German highway. While riding his bike, Noh failed to properly close his side bag during refueling, causing him to lose the entire bag. The bag contained his passport, cash, and bike rental documents. Fortunately, passing vehicles spotted the bag, and with the help of an elderly couple, he was able to safely recover his lost belongings.

The meter reading after seven attempts

Even after recovering his bag, the hardships continued. Needing to head to the airport the day after the loss, Noh struggled to catch a taxi in a rural area of Germany. He expressed anxiety, saying, "Since this is such a remote area, I haven't been able to catch one even after an hour." He requested help from a nearby bakery clerk and tried five times, but failed every time. With the clerk's assistance, he finally managed to board a taxi on his seventh attempt.

His relief was short-lived; upon checking the taxi meter, Noh could not believe his eyes. The number '223' was clearly displayed. He denied reality, asking, "Surely that's not in Euros?" When he had previously called an Uber, he expected the fare to be around 78 Euros, but despite having only about 10km left to travel, the final amount charged was 253.10 Euros. This amounts to approximately 420,000 Korean won.

"Korean airport buses are the best": Moved by German warmth

Upon arriving at Incheon Airport, Noh praised the Korean transportation system. Heading home via an airport bus, he confessed, "The taxi fare and the airport bus combined came to over 440,000 won." He then burst into laughter at the contrast between Germany's high taxi fares and Korea's prices, saying, "The airport bus is 17,000 won. As expected, Korean airport buses are the best." He even explained to the foreigners traveling with him how reasonable the price of Korean airport buses is.

Aside from the economic shock, Noh stated that his impression of Germans changed during this trip. He felt that Germans, whom he thought might be blunt, actually possess a warm heart similar to the Korean concept of 'Jeong.' He remarked, "When I saw Germans, they had a blunt and somewhat scary image. But traveling here, the sentiment is similar to our country. I felt hearts that could be described as 'Jeong,' just like in Korea. Germany is the best. I am leaving (for Korea) after being moved like this."