Seoul city to operate up to 1,500 free shuttle buses amid looming bus strike

The Seoul metropolitan government has announced plans to operate up to 1,500 free shuttle buses this week, should unionized workers of the capital's intracity buses proceed with their planned strike. The potential strike, set to begin on Wednesday, has raised concerns about major traffic disruptions and delays. In preparation for the strike, the city government has increased its fleet of free shuttle buses from around 700 to 1,500, with 200 buses connecting city wards and 1,300 linking key hubs to subway stations.

The government has also extended subway morning rush-hour operations by two hours and extended late-night operations until 2 a.m. Additionally, the city will offer free use of its public bike service, Ttareungi, during the strike period. The dispute between unionized bus workers and bus operators centers on various issues, including wage increases and working conditions.

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