Mokpo City Makes Every Effort to Minimize Citizen Inconvenience Amid City Bus Strike

Secure Maximum Available Buses to Operate Two Routes: Line 1 and Line 9

[Mokpo=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Hyeong-seok] Mokpo City in Jeollanam-do announced on the 17th that it is making every effort to minimize citizen inconvenience caused by the city bus strike.

As the unions of Taewon Passenger and Yujin Transport decided to launch a full strike starting at 5 a.m. on the 18th, the city is dedicating all administrative power to emergency transportation measures, even sacrificing the weekend.

Mayor Park Hong-ryul of Mokpo also chaired a city bus strike countermeasure meeting on the 14th and ordered the reorganization of emergency transportation measures to minimize citizen inconvenience.

The city initially planned to lease 50 charter buses to operate on 8 routes. To this end, it pursued bus leasing through the National Charter Bus Transport Association, but was informed that leasing was impossible as charter bus contracts had already been signed due to increased domestic tourism demand following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and school trips.

Accordingly, the city deployed its own official vehicles and secured a total of 20 vehicles by requesting support from Romantic Bus, military units, universities, companies, churches, children's transport vehicles, Jeollanam-do, and 21 cities and counties in Jeonnam.

As the number of available buses decreased, the city inevitably decided to operate only 2 routes (No. 1 and No. 9) first, concentrating dispatch during school commuting and rush hours from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The city requested emergency transportation vehicle support from deputy heads of Jeonnam cities and counties, promoted a carpool system for public officials, and plans to quickly expand routes and dispatch times once additional buses are secured. It also requested the Mokpo Office of Education and Jeonnam Office of Education to adjust school start times for elementary, middle, and high schools during the strike period.

A city official said, “We ask for active participation in alternative transportation methods such as carpooling, walking short distances, biking, and taxis,” adding, “We will do our best to secure additional emergency transportation vehicles and to restore city bus services as soon as possible.”