South Korea

Intelligence for Better Decision Making

Seoul Bus Strike Resolved After Wage Deal Restores Citywide Service

Jan. 16, 2026 | Transportation & Logistics

Seoul’s extensive bus network ground to a halt in a citywide strike triggered by stalled wage negotiations.

**The strike began at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, after talks between the Seoul City Bus Labor Union and the Seoul Bus Transport Association broke down.**
At its height, approximately 93 percent of the city’s 7,018-strong fleet lay idle, with only 562 buses operating and commuters left scrambling in a metropolis that relies heavily on public transport.

**Negotiations resumed the next day at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in Yeongdeungpo-gu, where public-interest mediators stepped in following the previous day’s impasse.**
After more than nine hours of intense discussion, negotiators reached an agreement around 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, ending the two-day walkout and allowing services to resume at 4 a.m. on Thursday, January 15.

**Under the deal, drivers will receive a 2.9 percent base wage increase for 2026—well above the city management’s initial 0.5 percent offer but just shy of the union’s 3 percent demand.**
The agreement also phases in an extension of the retirement age, raising it from 63 to 64 in July 2026 and then to 65 in July 2027. The parties agreed to postpone discussions about incorporating regular bonuses into ordinary wages, leaving that issue on the table for future talks in light of a December 2024 Supreme Court ruling.

**During the stoppage, Seoul city authorities rolled out emergency transport measures to ease the strain on commuters.**
They extended subway operating hours, increased peak-hour train frequency, deployed empty trains to reduce platform crowding, and doubled safety personnel at major stations. The city also chartered and operated 677 shuttle buses on Tuesday and 763 on Wednesday, carrying more than 86,000 passengers along halted bus routes. These interventions cost roughly 10 billion won (about $6.8 million) per day. Once buses returned to service on Thursday morning, officials lifted all emergency provisions and reverted to normal schedules.

**The strike brought deeper structural challenges in the semi-public bus operation system into sharp relief.**
The city covers annual budget deficits estimated at around 600 billion won and could face further strain if future wage demands materialize. Critics warn that unresolved questions over ordinary wage definitions and the funding model for semi-public operations may trigger fresh disputes, especially given the municipal budget injections during the COVID-19 pandemic and their lasting impact on city finances.

**Union chairman Park Jeom-gon apologized to citizens for the disruption and expressed hope for smoother negotiations ahead, while Seoul Bus Transport Association chair Kim Jeong-hwan welcomed the resolution despite regret over the strike’s duration.**
Mayor Oh Se-hoon praised both sides for their conduct and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to strengthening labor-management trust and ensuring reliable public transportation.

North Korea Demands Apology Amid Escalating Drone Incursion Dispute

Jan. 15, 2026 | Geopolitics & Defense

Tensions between North and South Korea have escalated following allegations of unauthorized drone flights and a subsequent demand for an apology from Pyongyang.

**Kim Yo-jong, deputy head of the North Korean Workers’ Party and sister of leader Kim Jong-un, rejected South Korea’s overtures for renewed communication after accusing Seoul of sending unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into North Korean airspace.**
She dismissed any hopes for improved inter-Korean relations as a “pipe dream and delusion,” described the South Korean government’s response as “pitiful,” and warned that further provocations would trigger consequences far more severe than mere verbal threats or proportional retaliation.

**North Korea claims that on January 4, a surveillance-equipped drone violated its airspace over Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, representing a serious breach of sovereignty.**
Pyongyang first announced the incident on January 10 through the Korean Central News Agency, demanding a formal acknowledgment and apology from Seoul. Kim Yo-jong reiterated that any repeat incursions would exact an “unbearable price,” insisting her warning was not idle rhetoric.

**South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense denies owning or deploying the drone and has launched a joint military-police investigation to trace its origin, even considering that civilian operators, rather than the military, could be responsible.**
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Seoul remains open to dialogue once inquiries conclude and North Korea responds. He criticized Pyongyang’s choice to air its accusations via state media instead of through established inter-Korean channels, calling that approach “unnatural and abnormal.” Chung added that South Korea might issue an official apology for drone deployments in 2024 under the previous administration—an option now under legal review—and noted that the investigation’s findings will guide any further actions, echoing past expressions of regret after the 2020 killing of a South Korean government employee in the Yellow Sea.

Monitored Intelligence for South Korea - Jan. 16, 2026

News
Media
262

Government
Releases
20

City/State
Releases
32

Embassy
Releases
0

Foreign
Service
Advisories
0

Academic/
Think
Tank
5

Podcasts
0

Videos
0

Social
Media
0

Business
Releases
1

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PM vows measures to tighten safety rules on chemical products

Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Regulation

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok pledged on January 15, 2026, to implement stringent safety measures on chemical products to prevent disasters similar to the toxic humidifier disinfectant incident. Highlighting the government's priority on public safety and health, he emphasized the need to eliminate blind spots in both prevention and post-incident response. The humidifier disinfectant tragedy, which surfaced in 2011, resulted in over 5,000 officially recognized victims linked to deaths and illnesses caused by the widely used household chemical.

In the same policy meeting, Kim addressed South Korea's industrial outlook, underscoring the significance of fostering artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cultural content, defense, and energy sectors. He noted the country's export achievement of $709.7 billion in 2025, driven by strong demand for semiconductors, automobiles, ships, and growth in agro-fisheries and cosmetics industries. Despite this record export performance, Kim warned against complacency in the face of current economic conditions.

Muan bird strike prevention zone was less than half of legally required distance, say lawmakers

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Accidents

Muan International Airport violated Korean aviation safety regulations by maintaining a bird strike prevention zone limited to a 5-kilometer radius, less than half of the legally required 13 kilometers. This was revealed during an investigation into the Jeju Air crash on December 29, 2024, which killed 179 people. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport mandates that airports assess bird habitats and movement patterns within a 13-kilometer radius to properly manage bird strike risks, a requirement Muan Airport failed to meet.

Additionally, the engine model on the crashed Boeing 737-800 had been subject to five mandatory safety improvement directives between November 2020 and March 2024, including one urgent action. These Airworthiness Directives require inspections and repairs to address unsafe conditions. A parliamentary special committee investigating the crash plans to conduct briefings, on-site inspections, and hearings with witnesses and victims’ families before issuing a final report by late January 2026.

The localizer, a navigational aid at Muan Airport, also came under scrutiny for exacerbating the crash impact. Initially deemed compliant with regulations by the transport ministry, it was later found to fail safety standards. Simulations suggested that replacing the concrete embankment housing the localizer with a frangible structure could have prevented serious injuries. The Jeju Air aircraft belly-landed, struck the localizer’s concrete embankment, and exploded, marking the deadliest air accident in Korean history.

디엘지, 태국 소재 테크&amp스타트업 허브 'TDPK'와 협력

DLG collaborates with Thai tech and startup hub 'TDPK'

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

DLG Law Corporation’s Thailand-based joint venture, DLG&AP, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with True Digital Park (TDPK), Southeast Asia’s largest tech and startup hub located in Thailand, to support Korean companies entering the Thai market. The agreement aims to establish a practical support system facilitating stable market entry for Korean firms through business matching, tailored legal advice under Thai law, and joint networking events.

A key initiative under this collaboration is the “Soft Landing Package,” which combines TDPK’s advanced infrastructure with DLG&AP’s legal advisory services. This package is designed to minimize early expansion risks such as company setup, permits, approvals, and visa issues, enabling clients to focus on their core business and achieve faster market entry with reduced trial-and-error costs.

DLG Law Corporation specializes in legal services for startups, tech ventures, and M&A, with strong expertise in digital sectors like AI, blockchain, and healthcare. Through DLG&AP and collaboration with local legal experts, the firm supports Korean companies’ entry into the ASEAN market. TDPK, founded by True Corporation’s digital division, hosts over 260 startups and 13,000 members, including four unicorns, making it central to Thailand’s digital economy.

DLG and TDPK leadership emphasized the partnership’s role as a reliable bridgehead for Korean companies, combining local expertise and networks to create a comprehensive support system for expanding Korean innovation in Thailand.

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