Seoul bus workers to resume wage talks as strike enters second day SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Unionized bus workers in Seoul are set to resume wage negotiations with management on Wednesday, after going into an indefinite strike the previous day that suspended all services. With a second day of major traffic disruptions, the two sides are scheduled to sit down for talks again at 3 p.m., following a series of previous negotiations that collapsed as they failed to narrow their differences. The main point of dispute is whether bonuses should be included in their wages. Bus drivers have been demanding that bonuses be calculated as part of their wages, arguing that it is not subject to collective bargaining but is a legally-binding requirement stemming from a Supreme Court ruling in December 2024. As around 7,000 buses stopped operating, the Seoul Metropolitan Government increased subway services, adding more trains during the morning and evening rush hours, as well as nearly 700 free shuttle buses to and from subway stations. 2026-01-14 09:04:39

Icy rush-hour disruption inevitable as Seoul city bus strike begins SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Seoul commuters faced inevitable rush-hour disruption amid icy temperatures Tuesday as city bus drivers launched an indefinite strike after last-minute wage talks collapsed overnight. Members of the Seoul City Bus Workers Union began the walkout with the first buses of the day at 4 a.m., after negotiations with the Seoul City Bus Transport Business Association broke down around 1:30 a.m., according to both sides. The talks, mediated by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in Yeongdeungpo, stretched more than 10 hours from Monday afternoon but failed to bridge differences over wage structure and the definition of ordinary wages. At the heart of the dispute is how bonuses should be treated under a Supreme Court ruling that broadens the scope of ordinary wages, which directly affects overtime pay and retirement benefits. Management proposed restructuring the pay system by folding bonuses into base pay to contain additional labor costs, offering a total wage increase of 10.3 percent. The union rejected the proposal, arguing that payments tied to recognizing ordinary wages should be excluded from this round of bargaining. Instead, the union is demanding a 3 percent wage increase without altering the current pay system, raising the retirement age to 65 and eliminating what it calls wage discrimination. Employers countered that accepting a 3 percent raise now, followed by a future recalculation of bonuses as ordinary wages, would amount to an effective pay hike of about 20 percent, calling the demand excessive. No further bargaining schedule has been set, though both sides indicated that informal contacts may continue. With all 64 city bus companies participating in the strike, operations across Seoul’s 394 routes — involving 7,382 buses — were halted, raising fears of widespread commuting chaos during one of the coldest weeks of the winter. The Seoul Metropolitan Government activated emergency transportation measures from 4 a.m., deploying alternative transit options to ease congestion. Subway services were expanded during peak commuting hours, with morning and evening rush periods extended from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., while late-night subway operations were pushed back to 2 a.m. the following day. In total, subway services will run an additional 172 times per day. To improve access to subway stations, all 25 district offices in Seoul are operating free shuttle buses. “We will mobilize all available transportation resources to minimize inconvenience to citizens,” said Yeo Jang-kwon, head of Seoul’s transportation bureau. He also urged the bus union to consider public hardship and return to work as soon as possible. 2026-01-13 07:16:58

Lingering cold brings snow and rain across country SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Snow or rain is expected nationwide, as cold wave warnings have been issued for most parts of the country including the capital region, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Monday. Up to 8 centimeters of snowfall is expected in the central region including Chungcheong provinces, while Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province may see less than 1 centimeter of snowflakes. Morning lows hovered between -10 and -5 degrees Celsius, with icy winds making it feel even colder, and daytime highs are expected to offer little relief. The cold is expected to gradually ease through midweek. 2026-01-12 09:38:05

Ex-Korean president faces closing hearing of insurrection-related trials SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will face a closing hearing Friday in a criminal case accusing him of obstructing an arrest and infringing Cabinet members’ constitutional rights in connection with his declaration of martial law. The hearing, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first time one of four insurrection-related cases involving Yoon has reached the final stage of arguments. Legal observers say the outcome could serve as a bellwether for how the remaining trials may unfold. Criminal Division 35 will hear final arguments in the case charging Yoon with aggravated obstruction of official duties and related offenses. If proceedings move as scheduled, the court is expected to set a date for a first-instance verdict later in the day. The timing is notable, as a ruling could come just days before Yoon’s detention is set to expire on Jan. 18. Under the special counsel law governing insurrection-related cases, courts are required to deliver a first-trial verdict within six months of indictment. At a previous hearing on Dec. 16, the court indicated that a decision would likely be issued around Jan. 16. During Friday’s session, the court will first question two witnesses: Lee Sang-min, former interior and safety minister, and Choi Sang-mok, former deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister. The special counsel team will then present its closing arguments and sentencing request, followed by the defense’s final arguments and Yoon’s own statement to the court. Yoon was indicted in July while in detention. Prosecutors allege that when he declared martial law on Dec. 3, he selectively summoned only Cabinet members considered favorable to him in order to create the appearance of a lawful Cabinet deliberation. They argue this violated the constitutional rights of nine ministers who were excluded from the decision-making process. The indictment further alleges that after martial law was lifted, Yoon ordered the creation of a false proclamation to make it appear the measure had been formally approved through a document bearing the signatures of then–Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Prosecutors say the document was later shredded, despite constituting an official presidential record. Yoon is also accused of ordering the deletion of secure communication records involving former Defense Security Command chief Yeo In-hyung, and of directing the Presidential Security Service to block the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials from executing an arrest warrant in January. Separately, the special counsel team has additionally indicted Yoon on charges of aiding the enemy, alleging that drones were sent into Pyongyang to heighten military tensions and create justification for declaring martial law. The team has requested extended detention in that case, and the court held a hearing on the request on Dec. 23. The court instructed both the prosecution and the defense to submit additional written opinions by Dec. 30, with a decision on the detention request expected after that date. In the same case, Kim Yong-hyun and Yeo In-hyung, indicted as Yoon’s accomplices, were issued additional arrest warrants on Dec. 24, extending their detention by up to six months. Kim’s previous detention was due to expire a day earlier, while Yeo’s was set to expire on Jan. 2. Yoon had asked the court to postpone sentencing in the current case until after proceedings conclude in what prosecutors describe as the “main case” — the charge of leading an insurrection — now being tried separately at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25 under Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon. That request was rejected. The insurrection-leader case is expected to conclude arguments as early as next month, with a first-instance ruling likely in February, according to court officials. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 07:34:08

Fire at apartment complex in Seoul leaves two in critical condition, dozens evacuated SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - A fire broke out at an apartment complex in Songpa, southern Seoul, early Wednesday morning, leaving two people in cardiac arrest and dozens evacuated. According to fire authorities, the blaze started at around 5:36 a.m. on the fifth floor of the Olympic Athletes' Village, which was built just ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics to house athletes and journalists and was later converted into a residential complex. Rescue officials said a man and a woman in their 60s were found unconscious and remain in critical condition. Another man and woman in their 70s who were rescued at the scene suffered minor discomfort after being exposed to smoke, while some 35 residents evacuated on their own. Some 87 firefighters were mobilized, and the fire was fully extinguished at around 7:11 a.m., roughly 90 minutes after it broke out. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire. 2025-12-24 08:59:18

Unionized rail workers postpone strike for now SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Unionized railway workers called off their planned all-out strike after receiving a new offer on bonus payments overnight. State-run rail operator KORAIL's workers, who had planned to go on strike starting with the first train on Tuesday unless the agreements are fulfilled, said they would discuss further on performance-based bonuses, as management proposed gradually restoring them from 80 percent of base pay to 90 percent next year and to full pay in 2027. With their last-minute decision to hold off on a strike for now, all trains are running normally. A union official said, "Commuters may have been inconvenienced by concerns late into the night," adding that rail workers would repay them with a safer public railway. 2025-12-23 08:59:01

KT Wiz infielder Hwang Jae-gyun to end 20-year baseball career SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Infielder Hwang Jae-gyun is retiring from baseball, the KT Wiz said on Friday. In a statement released by the club, Hwang said, "Despite a good offer from the club, I decided to retire after much consideration." He added, "Thanks to the fans who always supported me enthusiastically, I was able to play for 20 years." "It was a great honor to be selected for the national team and to compete in international sporting events such as the Olympics and Asian Games," he recalled. "I also hope to be remembered as a player who consistently performed well without major injuries." He also expressed his gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and the clubs he played for. Making his professional debut in 2007 with the now-defunct Hyundai Unicorns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league, Hwang played for the Kiwoom Heroes and Lotte Giants, and also had a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball in 2017. He then joined the KT Wiz in 2018 and spent the remainder of his career with the team. He appeared in 2,200 games, posting a .285 batting average, 2,266 hits, 227 home runs, and 235 stolen bases. KT Wiz will hold an official retirement ceremony for Hwang early next year. 2025-12-19 16:40:22

Construction site collapse leaves one in cardiac arrest, several injured SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - A steel bar collapsed at a subway construction site near Yeouido in Seoul, trapping several workers, police authorities said on Thursday. According to rescue officials, the collapse occurred at around 1:20 p.m., and all seven workers were rescued shortly afterward. Among them, one man in his 50s was found in cardiac arrest and was taken to a nearby hospital, while another man in his 50s suffered a minor ankle injury. A foreign worker in his 30s escaped on his own and was later treated at the scene for an injury to his wrist. The accident is believed to have occurred about 70 meters underground when the steel bar fell during concrete pouring work. Police said they plan to investigate whether there were any safety lapses during the work. 2025-12-18 16:22:44

Two workers still missing after construction site collapse in Gwangju SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Rescue workers have been searching for missing workers on Friday after a steel structure collapsed at a construction site in the southwestern city of Gwangju the previous day. The collapse occurred at the site for a library, leaving four workers trapped under the debris. Two of them were found dead and two others remain missing. Authorities believe the collapse started while concrete was being poured on the second-floor roof, burying the workers under debris. They plan to investigate the exact cause of the accident after completing rescue operations, looking into whether any flaws were involved in attempts to shorten the construction period. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-12 16:48:14

Seoul to hold govt briefings for policy roadmap to president live SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will begin his first round of public-sector briefings starting Thursday, setting the stage for his administration’s initial policy roadmap across the economy, agriculture, labor, and data governance. Lee, who just completed his first six months in office, will receive reports from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Data Agency, along with their affiliated institutions. The sessions will examine some of the administration’s most urgent as well as mid-term challenges: stabilizing the exchange rate and consumer prices, overhauling tax policy, expanding K-food exports, and rolling out a basic income program for rural regions. Labor and safety policy will also be a focal point. Officials are expected to outline plans to reduce industrial accidents and ensure the smooth implementation of the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, which strengthens protections for workers engaged in labor disputes. In total, the briefing process spans 228 public institutions, including 19 ministries, five offices, 18 agencies, and seven governmental committees. Meetings will be held across Sejong, Seoul, and Busan. Most sessions will be broadcast live to the public, with the exception of briefings related to diplomacy and national security. Lee has emphasized the significance of these inaugural briefings. At a recent Cabinet meeting, he instructed ministries to prepare “as if presenting a transparent national blueprint to the public, not merely reporting to the president,” underscoring his push for what he calls “national normalization” and Korea’s broader transformation agenda. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 07:30:07