What deal ended the Seoul bus drivers strike?

Unionized Seoul bus drivers and management agreed on a 2.9 percent wage hike and a gradual extension of the retirement age to 65 by July next year. The deal was reached late Wednesday after nine hours of mediation at the Seoul branch of the National Labor Relations Commission.

How badly did the Seoul bus strike affect commuters?

The strike left only 562 of the city’s 7,018 intracity buses in operation Wednesday morning, or 8 percent. Seoul also expanded subway service, sent empty trains to congested stations, increased safety staff at major stations, and deployed chartered buses to ease the disruption.

When did the Seoul bus strike start and end?

The strike began Tuesday after wage talks collapsed and ended Wednesday night with the wage agreement. Bus services were scheduled to operate normally again from Thursday morning, ending the drivers’ first strike in two years.

Seoul bus drivers end strike after reaching wage deal

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Summary

Seoul bus drivers ended a two-day strike after reaching a wage deal with management late Wednesday, officials said. Bus service in the capital was scheduled to return to normal Thursday morning after the first strike in two years. The agreement includes a 2.9 percent wage hike and a gradual extension of the retirement age to 65 by July next year. The strike had disrupted commuting, with the city boosting subway and chartered bus services.

Key Facts

The agreement was reached after nine hours of negotiations in a special mediation session at the Seoul branch of the National Labor Relations Commission.
Only 562 of Seoul’s 7,018 intracity buses, or 8 percent, were operating on Wednesday morning during the strike.
The Seoul city government increased additional subway services during rush hour from 172 on Tuesday to 203 on Wednesday.
The city deployed 677 chartered buses on 134 routes Tuesday and added 86 more on Wednesday, bringing the total to 763.
The strike began Tuesday after wage talks broke down, making it the drivers’ first strike in two years.

By Yonhap

Published Jan 15, 2026 12:13 am KST
Updated Jan 15, 2026 10:35 am KST

Buses operate normally near the Seoul Station, Thursday, after unionized bus drivers in Seoul ended a two-day strike that disrupted commuter services, having reached a deal with the management. Yonhap

Unionized bus drivers in Seoul have reached a collective wage deal with the management, ending a two-day strike that caused major disruptions for commuters, according to officials Thursday.

The agreement was reached late Wednesday in a special mediation session at the Seoul branch of the National Labor Relations Commission following nine hours of negotiations, according to Seoul city government officials.

Bus services in the capital were scheduled to operate normally starting Thursday morning, putting an end to the bus drivers' first strike in two years, which began Tuesday after wage talks broke down.

Under the finalized agreement, the two sides agreed on a 2.9 percent wage hike and to gradually extend the retirement age to 65 by July next year from the current 63.

The strike had caused major inconvenience to commuters, with only 562, or 8 percent, of the city's 7,018 intracity buses in operation Wednesday morning.

The strike prompted the Seoul city government to increase the number of additional subway services during rush hour from 172 on Tuesday to 203 on Wednesday. The peak commuter train service hours were also expanded by two hours Wednesday, compared with one hour Tuesday.

In addition, the authorities tried to alleviate platform congestion by sending empty trains to heavily congested subway stations during rush hour and increased safety personnel to more than twice the usual level at 86 major stations.

The city government said it mobilized 677 chartered buses on 134 routes throughout the capital Tuesday, serving 86,035 passengers. On Wednesday, 86 additional chartered buses were deployed, bringing the total to 763.

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