Seoul Metro Labor-Management Negotiation Reached Agreement... Normal Operation from First Train

Possible Delays on Sections Jointly Operated by Korea Railroad Corporation

On the 30th, Seoul Metro, operated by Seoul Transportation Corporation, which runs the Seoul subway, went on strike, causing delays in subway operations. A strike-related notice is posted at Sindorim Station in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metro Corporation's labor and management have reached an agreement in negotiations and will resume normal operations from the first train.

On the 1st, Seoul Metro Corporation announced that it had reached a final agreement on wage negotiations with the union's joint bargaining group and will start normal operations from the first train at 5:30 a.m., considering the return time of shift workers.

However, Lines 1, 3, and 4, which are jointly operated with Korea Railroad Corporation, may experience delays due to industrial action by the Korea Railroad Union.

Since September last year, Seoul Metro's labor and management have held five main negotiations and nine working-level negotiations to find common ground, but after the final breakdown on the 29th of last month, the union went on strike.

The labor and management agreed on a 1.4% increase compared to total labor costs in 2021. Last year, wages were frozen due to severe financial difficulties.

Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening safety following social disasters and decided to prepare measures to establish a safe subway environment.

Kim Sang-beom, President of Seoul Metro Corporation, said, "I bow my head and apologize for the inconvenience caused to citizens as labor negotiations led to a strike," adding, "We will build a trusted Seoul subway based on a cooperative labor-management relationship."

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