Seoul City Bus Strike One Day Away: Mayor Oh Holds Emergency Meeting, Vows “All Administrative Resources Will Be Mobilized”

Free Shuttle Buses Deployed to Minimize Citizen Inconvenience

Increased Subway Service and Extended Last Train Hours for Commuters

Calls to Restrain Excessive Wage Demands

On the morning of September 15, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held an emergency situation assessment meeting presided over by Mayor Oh Se-hoon to prepare contingency transportation measures ahead of the city bus strike set to begin in just one day. The city announced that it would “mobilize all available administrative resources,” prioritizing the protection of citizens’ right to mobility above all else.

On January 14, 2026, when the Seoul city bus strike occurred, the bus stop at Seoul Station showed a quiet scene. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Currently, the Seoul city bus union has warned that it will escalate to a full strike starting with the first buses of September 16 unless its demands are met by the end of the day. The union’s demands include an approximate 24% wage increase, which encompasses a roughly 16% rise in ordinary wages and a separate 7.85% raise in base salary. Anticipating the possibility of failed labor negotiations, the city is formulating comprehensive measures aimed at minimizing harm to the public.

First, the operation of free shuttle buses (chartered buses) will be greatly expanded. Previously, shuttle buses were operated only by each district office, but this time, the Seoul Metropolitan Government itself will deploy them on major arterial roads in order to significantly boost transportation capacity during commuting hours. The city emphasized the necessity of expanding shuttle services, noting that “if bus service is suspended, citizens in areas with poor subway access and vulnerable groups will be the first to suffer.”

In addition, the frequency of subway trains and late-night service hours will each be doubled compared to previous emergency transportation measures. Until now, train frequency during rush hours and the last train times had been extended by one hour; this time, both will be extended by two hours to maximize passenger capacity during peak periods. The city government also strengthened public guidance by posting shuttle bus routes and related information on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s website in advance.

Official documents have already been sent to relevant institutions such as the Office of Education, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Korea Federation of SMEs, requesting adjustments to school start times for elementary, middle, and high schools as well as the adoption of remote work or flexible work policies by private companies. Seoul Metropolitan Government and all affiliated public agencies have actively implemented their own flexible work systems to reduce commuting disruptions. Additionally, guidance on alternative transportation options for foreign visitors to Seoul is being enhanced.

The city stated, “It is deeply concerning that citizens are facing the same hardship just eight months after the last strike in January.” The government stressed that city buses, which are used by an average of 3.8 million people daily, are an indispensable part of citizens’ daily life, and called on the union to engage in responsible negotiations. The city added, “Just as the right to strike is important for the union, the right to mobility for citizens is equally vital, so excessive wage demands should be avoided.”

Mayor Oh said, “The Seoul Metropolitan Government will do everything it can to ensure both labor and management reach a reasonable solution until the very last moment,” adding, “At the same time, we will thoroughly prepare contingency transportation measures, including the deployment of shuttle buses and increased subway operations.”

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