**Seoul City Buses Begin Strike on the 13th**
On the 13th, the Seoul city bus union began a total strike starting with the first bus of the day. The last-minute mediation the previous day ended in failure, with both sides remaining at an impasse. As of 9 AM, only 6.8% of buses were operational.
With around 6,500 buses halted, commuters faced increased confusion. To counter the disruption, Seoul city implemented an emergency transportation plan, allocating approximately 1 billion KRW per day to deploy chartered buses in each of the 25 districts.
According to the Seoul city government, as of 9 AM, 93.2% of city buses, equaling 6,540 buses, had ceased operations due to the strike by the bus union. The remaining 6.8%, or 478 buses, were operated by non-union drivers or those who chose not to participate in the strike, aiming to provide convenience to citizens. The Seoul Bus Transportation Business Association ensured these drivers could work safely without interference through an ’emergency response team.’
Buses currently operating do not charge fares, as indicated by notices inside the buses. A city official explained that since the interval between buses has lengthened during the strike, free rides are provided due to anticipated inconvenience compared to usual travel conditions. Normal fares will resume once the operational rate rises above 30%.
With most buses out of service, subway usage increased. Yang Jang-kwon, a Seoul transportation official, noted an 18% rise in subway commuters between 5 to 7 AM compared to the same time the previous day, as many sought alternative transportation knowing of the strike and left home earlier.
To prepare for the bus strike, Seoul commenced emergency transportation measures from the first bus of the day. Subway congested hours during peak times were extended by an hour, and the last trains were prolonged until 2 AM. Additionally, free shuttle buses were arranged for connection to subway stations within the 25 districts, incurring around 1 billion KRW daily for such leased bus operations.
**“I Didn’t Know”… Chaos for Commuters on Their Way to Work**
The bus strike caused significant chaos for commuters. Crowds flocked to the subway, leaving little room to move, while those unaware of the strike found themselves waiting at empty bus stops. At Seoul Station, 26-year-old Park Seong-hyun shared his frustration over having to walk a kilometer to the subway instead of boarding his usual bus right outside his home. Similarly, 44-year-old Yoon Jeong-hyun expressed surprise at the unexpectedly crowded subway.
Some commuters left home earlier than usual to avoid potential travel disruptions. Office worker Jang Joon-woo, 31, mentioned leaving earlier only to find overcrowded conditions inside the subway. Kim, 38, noted finding out early enough about the bus strike to take the subway instead, which required leaving home 30 minutes earlier than usual.
In various areas, those unaware of the strike were caught off-guard at bus stops. An, 31, at a bus stop near Sindorim Station, admitted to being unaware of the strike, and 27-year-old Shim Soo-hyun had to change plans quickly to use the subway.
Taxi demand surged as an alternative, making it difficult to find one. At Gangnam Station, 27-year-old Hong lamented being late for work, blaming a delayed realization of the strike for his predicament. Park, 29, opted to grab a taxi after learning about the strike unexpectedly.
**Seoul Bus Labor Relations Stuck Over Wage System**
Earlier, the union and management held a special adjustment meeting on the afternoon of the previous day at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission but ended without resolution. The dispute over regular wages has persisted since April last year. Management insists on restructuring the wage system by adding bonuses to the base wage to mitigate the impact of increased labor costs resulting from a broader definition of regular wages due to a Supreme Court decision, proposing a 10.3% wage hike. In contrast, the union demands a 3% wage increase, extension of retirement age to 65, and elimination of wage discrimination without revising the wage structure, asserting that issues related to additional wage payouts as part of regular wage recognition should not be part of the current negotiations.
Management proposed calculating regular wages based on 209 hours, raising wages by 10.3% immediately, and retroactively adjusting any additional increases if the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the union’s proposed 176-hour calculation. Similar agreements had been reached in other regions like Busan, Daegu, and Incheon.
Despite this proposal, the union refused, eventually leading to management agreeing to further terms suggested by mediators: a separate 0.5% base wage increase and a one-year retirement age extension to 64. However, the union rejected these as well and attributed the proposals to management, ultimately declaring a breakdown in mediation. Kim Jeong-hwan, director of the Seoul Bus Transportation Business Association, emphasized the difficulty of foregoing wage system reform but stated the acceptance of the proposal was aimed at preventing the strike. He expressed bewilderment over the continued strike despite the offer.
The union, however, blamed the city and management for neglecting overdue wage payments. In a statement, the union held the city accountable for distorting facts by labeling their obligation to pay overdue wages as a union-demanded wage increase.
Following the failed final mediation, no further negotiation schedule between the bus union and management has been set. The ongoing negotiation stretching into the next year is considered unusual. A previous bus strike in 2024 was resolved in an unprecedented resolution within approximately 11 hours on the same day.