Seoul City Prepares for September 16 Bus Strike: Up to 1,500 Free Shuttles and Increased Subway Operations for Commuters

Roadside Bus-Only Lanes Opened to General Traffic
Temporary Village Bus Routes Added; Free Ttareungi Bike Service
"Strict Response to Illegal Acts in Accordance with the Law and Principles"

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will implement emergency transportation measures in response to the city bus strike scheduled to start with the first buses on September 16. The Seoul City Bus Union has announced that it will go on strike if a wage agreement is not reached by September 15, prompting the city, in cooperation with all 25 districts, to establish a response system to mobilize every available mode of transportation.

Buses are parked at a bus depot in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

The city plans to expand the operation of free shuttle buses, which numbered around 700 during the previous strike, to up to 1,500 vehicles for this occasion. District offices will deploy up to 1,300 shuttle buses connecting major hubs and residential areas to subway stations.

Seoul Metropolitan Government will also operate approximately 200 shuttle buses across 10 routes on main roads such as Gangnam-daero, Tongil-ro, and Dobong-ro. Information on shuttle bus routes and schedules will be released through the websites of the city and district governments after 6 p.m. on September 14.

The frequency of subway operations will also be significantly increased. The city will extend peak hours from the previous 7-9 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. to 7-11 a.m. and 6-10 p.m., adding a total of 202 extra train runs per day. The last train of the day, which currently departs its terminal at 1 a.m., will be extended to 2 a.m. the following day to minimize late-night travel inconveniences.

To accommodate an expected increase in private vehicle use, operation of roadside bus-only lanes will be suspended during the strike and general vehicles will be permitted. However, center-lane bus-only lanes will remain exclusive to buses as usual.

This emergency plan also newly includes the operation of village buses and the city’s public bicycle service, Ttareungi. The city will accept applications from village bus operators to run temporary trunk routes and temporarily lift restrictions on the use of city bus stops. In addition, free use of Ttareungi bikes will be supported during the strike period to help disperse medium- and short-distance travel demand.

Commuters are waiting for the bus at a bus stop in Sangam-dong, Seoul. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

The city will provide real-time transportation information through the 120 Dasan Call Center, the TOPIS traffic information center, city and district websites and social media, road electronic boards, and bus information terminals (BIT) at bus stops. District offices will also quickly provide regional transportation information through all available channels.

Temporary shuttle routes will be operated flexibly depending on the return of bus drivers. These shuttles will run between bus depots and main subway stations, and routes where sufficient driving staff return will be restored to full service. Temporary routes will principally be offered free of charge, though the imposition of fares will be determined separately depending on whether normal operations resume.

To protect the business rights of transport companies and drivers who wish to operate normally during the strike, government officials will be assigned to each bus depot. The city plans to work with police to immediately address illegal acts such as unauthorized vehicle parking, drivers disappearing after collecting bus keys, or blocking buses by climbing underneath them, all of which have occurred in the past. Such actions may be punished under Article 314 of the Criminal Act (Interference with Business) and Article 37 of the Trade Union Act.

To ease traffic congestion, the city has requested that elementary, middle, and high schools, public agencies, and private companies adjust their school start and commute times by one hour, and recommended telecommuting and flexible work arrangements if necessary. On September 14, the city will hold meetings with district transportation chiefs and representatives from transportation companies to encourage cooperation for the emergency transportation plan, and will conduct a final check meeting on September 15.

Jangkwon Yeo, Seoul's Director General of Transportation, stated, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government will operate alternative transportation to the fullest extent possible to minimize inconvenience to citizens, and will strictly respond to any illegal acts that interfere with normal operations in accordance with the law and established principles." He added, "As there is still time for labor and management to resolve the issue through dialogue, we hope that negotiations will reach a rational agreement that citizens can accept."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.