SEOUL: Thousands of bus drivers in Seoul initiated a strike on Thursday over a wage disagreement, impacting 97 percent of bus routes in the South Korean capital, as reported by their union.
This marks the first general strike by drivers since 2012, following the breakdown of pay negotiations early Thursday. The drivers are demanding a 12.7 percent hourly wage increase, with talks set to resume later in the day.
The union spokesperson expressed uncertainty about the strike’s duration, pending negotiation outcomes.
The strike led to commuter chaos during rush hour, with many bus stations deserted as passengers switched to the subway for their commute. Some commuters, like Cho Min-sang, were caught off guard by the strike, highlighting the lack of awareness due to limited news follow-up. Others, such as 37-year-old AI industry researcher Yoo Jae-yeon, chose to work from home in support of the strike despite inconvenience.
To alleviate the impact, the Seoul city government extended subway operating hours and increased train frequency during peak times. Additionally, 480 non-union buses were deployed to mitigate inconvenience for the public, affirmed Yoon Jong-jang, deputy director of the transportation office.
