Seoul City Holds Emergency Meeting Ahead of Possible Bus Strike, Prepares Contingency Transport Plans

As labor and management hold their final negotiations today (September 15), just one day ahead of the Seoul City Bus Labor Union's threatened strike, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held an emergency response meeting.

The city announced that it is preparing emergency transportation measures in case negotiations break down, which include deploying free shuttle buses (chartered buses), increasing subway operations, and extending late-night train hours.

Unlike past measures where free shuttle buses were operated only within individual autonomous districts, the city plans to run them at the municipal level and deploy them along major arterial roads to boost transit capacity.

For the subways, the city explained that during emergencies, the peak-hour operating hours for increased train frequency will be extended from one hour, as implemented in the past, to two hours.

Flexible working hours will be implemented across the Seoul Metropolitan Government and its affiliated public institutions.

The city will request elementary, middle, and high schools within its jurisdiction to adjust their school start times, while also encouraging private companies to implement work-from-home policies and flexible working hours.

The city has sent official letters to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Korea Federation of SMEs to seek cooperation.

Public relations and guidance will also be reinforced.

Prior to the strike, emergency transport route maps were posted in advance on the Seoul city website on September 14.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "Seoul City will make every effort until the very last moment to help labor and management reach a reasonable alternative for the city buses, while at the same time thoroughly preparing emergency transport measures such as deploying shuttle buses and increasing subway operations in preparation for any potential contingency."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.