Seoul Bus Drivers Go on Indefinite Strike

Morning scenes near Seoul Station looked unusually quiet as bus transfer centers, normally crowded with commuters, stood nearly empty. The Seoul bus drivers strike began early Tuesday after wage negotiations between union officials and management officially broke down overnight.

Union representatives and management entered wage talks on Monday, with negotiations stretching over ten hours before collapsing at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Management proposed a 10 percent wage increase following a Supreme Court ruling that classified bonuses as part of regular base pay.

To offset the financial burden, management suggested introducing a revised wage system that would formally integrate bonuses into base salaries. Union leaders rejected the proposal, insisting that additional payments tied to the court ruling should be excluded from current negotiations.

Instead, the union demanded a separate 3 percent wage increase without altering the wage system, alongside extending the retirement age to 65 and eliminating wage discrimination.

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Following the final breakdown of talks, roughly 7,000 city buses and 394 REIT buses across Seoul stopped operating, raising concerns over widespread traffic congestion. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government activated emergency transportation measures to reduce commuter inconvenience.

Subway services were expanded during morning rush hours, while late-night train operations were extended until 2:00 a.m. District offices also deployed free shuttle buses connecting residential areas to nearby subway stations.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon addressed the situation publicly, expressing a strong sense of responsibility and pledging to do everything possible to minimize disruption for residents as negotiations remain stalled.

Source: (1)