Deployment of Chartered Buses, Rental Taxis, and On-Site Support Staff
Changwon City: "We Will Mobilize All Available Means"
As the nationwide city bus union has announced a large-scale strike starting from the first bus on May 28, following the breakdown of the 2025 wage and collective bargaining negotiations, Changwon Special City has established an "Emergency Transportation Countermeasure" to minimize inconvenience for citizens and is making every effort to respond.
According to Changwon City on May 27, it is expected that 9 semi-public transportation companies (a total of 669 buses) out of 14 city bus companies in the city will participate in this strike, while village and combined-use buses (5 companies, 36 buses) are scheduled to operate normally.
Jonggeun Lee, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, is explaining to ensure that citizens do not experience any inconvenience related to the bus strike.
The city has formed an "Emergency Transportation Countermeasure Headquarters" with Jonggeun Lee, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, as its head, and is doing its utmost to secure alternative transportation and to inform the public.
On the day of the strike, the city will urgently deploy 170 chartered buses (on 40 routes) and 10 city-owned official buses. The chartered buses will be assigned mainly to major bus routes, while the official buses will be used to connect township and rural areas to major transfer hubs in the city, establishing an emergency transportation system.
In major sections of the city, route taxis that circulate between designated stops will operate intensively during commuting hours as substitutes for branch line buses. These taxis will be available to citizens at a low fare of 1,000 won to help alleviate inconvenience.
In outlying areas such as townships and rural districts where it is difficult to deploy chartered buses, a call-type taxi service will be operated, allowing citizens to request a taxi by phone.
Detailed routes and timetables for the buses and taxis involved in the emergency transportation plan can be found on the Changwon City website and the Changwon Bus Information System (BIS).
To ensure that citizens can use the temporary routes safely and conveniently, the city will station 340 boarding assistants and 40 on-site support staff at major stops. These personnel will provide waiting and boarding guidance as well as route information to minimize confusion on site. In addition, an emergency transportation information call center will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to provide prompt information on temporary routes and help reduce inconvenience for citizens.
The city will promptly provide information on the strike and alternative transportation options through various channels, including the city website, bus information system, social media, electronic displays, and BIT (Bus Information Terminal). Before and after the strike, the city also plans to actively promote information to citizens through emergency text messages, press briefings, and the posting of notices.
The city has made alleviating transportation inconveniences and ensuring citizens' right to mobility its top priority, and will monitor the strike situation at all times through the emergency countermeasure headquarters. In the event of a prolonged strike, additional deployment of chartered buses and rental taxis is also under consideration.
Jonggeun Lee, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, stated, "The city will do its utmost to safeguard citizens' right to safe mobility by mobilizing all available means. We ask all citizens to be sure to check alternative transportation options and temporary routes, and to consider using various methods such as private cars, carpooling, walking, or bicycles for commuting."
He added, "If you have any questions or experience any inconvenience, please feel free to contact the emergency call center at any time," and emphasized, "We will wisely overcome this crisis together with our citizens."
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