Gyeonggi Province Activates 'Emergency Transportation Measures' in Response to Seoul Bus Strike... Concentrated Dispatch on 128 Routes

Governor Kim Dongyeon Issues Urgent Directive to Minimize Inconvenience for Residents
Enhanced Coordination of Subways and Community Buses; Charter Buses Considered for Prolonged Strike
Concentrated Dispatches for 1,788 Buses on 128 Routes Similar to Seoul Strike Lines
Proactive Measures Including Chartering and Deploying Government-Owned Buses if Strike Persists

With a total strike of Seoul city buses scheduled for January 13, Gyeonggi Province has taken steps to establish emergency transportation measures to prevent confusion for residents commuting to and from work.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

On January 12, Gyeonggi Province announced that, following an urgent directive from Governor Kim Dongyeon, it will increase the frequency of provincial bus routes similar to those affected by the Seoul strike and fully mobilize alternative transportation such as subways and community buses, activating an all-out response system.

The province will implement concentrated bus dispatches during commuting hours for 1,788 vehicles on 128 existing provincial routes similar to the Seoul strike routes, and will operate an emergency transportation plan by actively linking alternative options such as community buses and taxis that connect with major subway stations.

In addition, Gyeonggi Province will promptly disseminate information about the Seoul bus strike through the Gyeonggi Bus app and bus stop announcements, and will promote the use of alternative transportation such as Gyeonggi buses and subways.

Depending on the strike situation, the next phase will involve deploying safety personnel at locations such as provincial subway stations where crowds are expected during commuting hours, sharing real-time information on passenger trends at provincial stations, and maintaining a cooperative system with cities, counties, and railway operators to prevent safety accidents.

If the strike is prolonged, the province plans to take even more proactive measures, such as chartering buses and deploying government-owned buses for the affected routes.

Yoon Taewan, Director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Transportation Bureau, said, "We will minimize the inconvenience to Gyeonggi residents caused by the Seoul city bus strike," and added, "We will not only prepare alternative transportation, but also establish a cooperative system between the province and cities and counties to respond quickly and proactively to changes in the situation at the scene caused by the strike."

Meanwhile, as of January 12, the Seoul city bus labor union has announced a total strike starting with the first buses on January 13. The strike, triggered by the breakdown of the 2025 wage negotiations and issues related to ordinary wages, will affect approximately 390 routes and 7,300 buses in Seoul. Of these, 111 routes and 2,505 buses in 12 areas, including Goyang, will impact Gyeonggi Province.