"Withdraw Seoul City Transportation Fare Increase" Public Transport Workers' Union Bus Headquarters Protest

The labor sector demanded that Seoul City withdraw the bus fare increase.

The Seoul branch of the Democratic Bus Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union urged Seoul City on the 14th in front of the Seosomun Government Complex at Seoul City Hall to retract the bus fare hike.

The union stated, "Seoul City decided to raise fares citing severe deficits faced by bus companies, but private bus operators and private equity funds are extracting enormous profits as dividends," adding, "Raising fares without fundamentally reforming the quasi-public operation system, which is no different from favoring private companies, is like pouring water into a leaking jar."

On February 10th, at the Seoul City Hall Seosomun Building, during a public hearing to discuss public transportation fare increases and solutions to financial difficulties, representatives from the Public Transport Union Democratic Bus Headquarters Seoul Branch opposed the bus fare hike and took the stage to speak.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

They further argued that citizens and bus workers are excluded from Seoul City's bus-related policy decisions and called for the immediate formation of a labor-management-government-civil society task force (TF) to withdraw the fare increase and strengthen the public nature of buses. They demanded the abolition of the quasi-public bus system, introduction of a fully public system, elimination of the city bus company evaluation manual, direct employment of Seoul bus workers by the city, and improvement of working conditions.

The basic fare for Seoul city buses will increase from 1,200 won to 1,500 won starting August 12, and the subway basic fare will rise from 1,250 won to 1,400 won based on transportation card usage starting October 7. This is the first increase in Seoul public transportation fares in 8 years and 1 month since June 2015.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated at a meeting marking his first anniversary in office earlier this month, "Which Seoul mayor would want to raise fares?" and added, "Due to an unsustainable deficit structure, we made this difficult decision."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.