Frozen Commute Worsened by 'Bus Strike'... Citizens Plunge into Chaos

Seoul City Bus Union Launches Strike from First Bus on January 13
Final Mediation Collapses Day Before; Labor and Management Remain at Odds
Only 6.8% of Buses Operating as of 9 a.m.

Seoul city buses began a full-scale strike starting with the first buses of the day on January 13. With around 6,500 buses halted during the morning commute, confusion among citizens intensified.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on January 13, as of 9 a.m., 6,540 buses, representing 93.2% of all city buses, had stopped operating due to the strike by the Seoul City Bus Labor Union. Of the total, 478 buses, or 6.8%, were still running, either because their drivers are not union members or because some union members chose not to participate in the strike for the sake of public convenience. The Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association, representing management, has deployed an "emergency response team" to ensure these buses can operate safely without interference. The buses currently in service display a sign stating, "No fare charged due to bus strike."

Most Seoul city buses have ceased operation as the Seoul City Bus Labor Union launched an indefinite full strike on the 13th. The electronic display board at a bus stop near Seoul Station shows the location of Seoul city bus routes as "Departing Wait." 2026.01.13 Photo by Yoon Dongju

Commuters faced chaos on their way to work. Subway stations became overcrowded as people flocked to trains, and those who had not heard about the strike were left waiting at empty bus stops. Park Sunghyun (26), whom we met at Seoul Station, said, "I usually catch the bus right in front of my house, but today I had to walk a kilometer to the subway. I hope the bus strike ends soon." Yoon Junghyun (44) also commented, "The subway was much more crowded than usual, probably because of the bus strike, and it caught me off guard."

Many people left home earlier than usual, worried about the expected chaos during the morning rush. Office worker Jang Junwoo (31) said, "I thought the subway would be crowded, so I left a bit early, but it was still packed and very uncomfortable." Kim (38) shared, "When I realized the buses weren't running this morning, I rushed to the subway. I left at least 30 minutes earlier than usual. When things stop so suddenly like this, it feels like only the citizens suffer."

Scenes of citizens stranded at bus stops, unaware of the strike, were observed throughout the city. At many Seoul bus stops, only messages like "At the depot" or "Service ended" were displayed. Except for those waiting for Gyeonggi buses or town shuttle buses, the bus stops were mostly deserted. At a bus stop near Sindorim Station, Ahn (31) said, "I didn't know there was a bus strike," looking perplexed. Sim Suhyeon (27) also said, "I woke up and found out about the strike, so I had to hurry and take the subway instead."

With demand shifting from buses to taxis, catching a taxi became nearly impossible. Hong (27), whom we met at Exit 1 of Gangnam Station, said, "I have to be at work by 8 a.m., but I'm already late. I only found out about the strike just now and am waiting for a taxi." Park (29) added, "Since the bus strike was announced so suddenly, I'm just going to take a taxi."

The labor and management sides held a special mediation session followed by a post-mediation meeting at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission from 3 p.m. the previous day, but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. Since April of last year, they have been at odds over the issue of base pay. Management argued that, following a Supreme Court ruling, the scope of base pay would expand and labor costs would rise sharply, so the wage system should be revised by including bonuses in the base salary. They proposed a total wage increase of 10.3%. The union, on the other hand, insisted that additional payments resulting from the recognition of base pay should be excluded from the current negotiations, and demanded a 3% wage increase without wage system reform, an extension of the retirement age to 65, and the elimination of wage discrimination.

Management stated that in the final mediation, they agreed to accept the union's demand for a "base salary increase." When mediators, after discussing with the union, proposed a 0.5% base salary increase separate from base pay and a one-year extension of the retirement age to 64, management accepted these terms. However, the union suddenly claimed that these proposals originated from management and declared the mediation had failed. Kim Junghwan, Chairman of the Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association, explained, "It was difficult for us because it meant giving up our wage system, but we accepted the proposal to prevent a strike. We are bewildered that even such proposals were rejected and that the strike has gone ahead."

However, the union claims that management and the Seoul Metropolitan Government are responsible for ignoring the payment of overdue wages. In a statement, the union emphasized, "Responsibility for this strike lies with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which refused the bus workers' demand for a 3% wage increase and distorted the facts by disguising the legally mandated 'overdue wage payment' as if it were the wage increase demanded by the union."

Since the breakdown of the final mediation, no additional negotiations have been scheduled between the bus labor and management sides. It is considered unusual for negotiations on the collective wage agreement for Seoul city buses to extend into a new year. During the 2024 bus strike, the dispute was resolved dramatically at around 3 p.m. on the same day, after about 11 hours.