Kim Byoungmin on Bus Strike: "Ruling Party Should Not Fuel Confusion with Irresponsible Attacks"

"Solutions Needed, Not Political Blame"
Sharp Criticism of Ruling Party Politicians via Facebook

Kim Byoungmin, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul, addressed ruling party politicians regarding the Seoul city bus strike that began on the 13th, stating, "Irresponsible political attacks and spreading false information should not be used to incite public confusion."

On his Facebook page that day, Deputy Mayor Kim wrote, "We humbly accept all criticism and suggestions that the Seoul Metropolitan Government must do better," adding, "However, some ruling party politicians are continuing their political offensives with claims that do not even align with basic facts, which only makes negotiations more difficult and increases confusion among citizens."

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

Earlier, after labor-management mediation efforts for Seoul city buses broke down, the bus union launched a general strike starting with the first buses of the day. As of 9 a.m., only about 6.8% of buses were operating, causing significant inconvenience for commuters.

In relation to this, Deputy Mayor Kim explained, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government has never stopped communicating with both the labor and management sides of the city bus system. With an urgent desire to prevent a strike, the city accepted the mediation proposal from the local labor commission and made every effort to persuade the parties until the end. Unfortunately, negotiations broke down and the union proceeded with the strike."

He continued, "This negotiation deals with a very serious issue: how to establish a new wage system for quasi-public city buses following last year’s Supreme Court ruling and the second trial verdict for Donga Transportation. If a wrong precedent is set here, its impact could extend beyond Seoul, affecting public transportation and public services nationwide."

He further explained, "If the union's demands are unconditionally accepted, the resulting unsustainable labor costs could undermine the public bus system itself, place a heavy burden on Seoul's finances, and ultimately lead to increased costs for citizens."

Deputy Mayor Kim reiterated, "This is a time when we need solutions, not political blame. The most important thing is not attacking someone, but ending the inconvenience for citizens as quickly as possible. I urge the ruling party to work together to resolve the issue with a responsible attitude, rather than engaging in political offensives."