Nationwide Bus Strike in Korea (Today:Thursday, 22 Nov., 2012)

If you have to commute a lot today and that involves a bus then simply don't go anywhere. Bus drivers vowed Tuesday to begin a nationwide strike later this week in protest against a bill that redefines taxis as a mode of mass transit and offers them compensation for losses.The debate over whether taxis are public transportation means heated up after a parliamentary committee last week unanimously passed the bill that effectively categorized taxis as a mode of mass transit.

A total of 48,000 buses run nationwide, with some 7,500 buses running on over 360 routes in Seoul alone carrying approximately 5 million passengers.

In preparation of a possible strike, the land ministry said it is striving to come up with measures to minimize the impact on commuters, such as preparing extra taxis and subway services and extending their operation for an hour.

The government has also reportedly been actively trying to persuade lawmakers not to pass the bill, claiming it needs more time to deal with the issue as the government has not secured any budget for the move.

Putting cabbies under semi-state management, which currently applies to public transportation, will allow the government to determine taxi drivers' salaries and other operational details.

The bus industry receives an annual 1.2 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) in various subsidies from central and local governments, and cab firms 760 billion won.

UPDATE:

The bus strike has been called off, according to Korea Herald.

Bus service in Seoul returned to normal on Thursday after drivers staged a brief walkout in protest against a National Assembly bill meant to increase financial benefits to taxi companies.

The National Association of Bus Companies said bus service nationwide was normalized as of 6:20 a.m.