Busan subway union and operator reach provisional deal, strike called off
In short
Busan Transportation Corporation and the Busan subway union reached a provisional wage and staffing agreement late on 22 October, after the union had declared talks broken down. The union withdrew the strike planned from the first train on 23 October, and Busan urban rail ran normally. The deal still needs approval by union delegates and a vote of members.
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Busan Transportation Corporation and the Busan subway union reached a provisional agreement at about 23:00 on 22 October at the Nopo rolling stock depot in Geumjeong District, Busan. The union withdrew the strike it had planned from the first train on 23 October, and Busan urban rail ran normally, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 ]
The 19th round of 2026 bargaining began at 15:00 on 22 October. The union declared the talks broken down at about 21:00. CBS NoCut News and Seoul Economic Daily said the sides could not agree on some wording in a draft agreement on a consultative body for the parent company and its subsidiary. Dong-A Ilbo said they disagreed on staffing and the treatment of gongmujik (공무직) workers. A meeting of three representatives from each side, including the president and the union chair, then followed. Seoul Economic Daily said it lasted about an hour. [ 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
The provisional deal includes a 3.5% total wage increase over the previous year, according to Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo. They also said basic pay for commercial workers is set at 2,829,000 won a month and the tenure bands for gongmujik workers change from two years to one. A joint labour-management task force will assess field safety staffing next year, and the sides will ask Busan city for 29 extra staff next year to cover shift vacancies. Dong-A Ilbo and Asia Economy added that the deal guarantees four hours of continuous sleep for technical shift workers on night duty and that this year's leave allowance and performance pay will be paid in January. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
Reports differ on staffing numbers. Newsis said the biggest issue was staffing after the Yangsan line opens in December, and that 35 new staff were provisionally agreed after the union had sought 73. Dong-A Ilbo said the union lowered its demand from 100 to 73 and the corporation offered about 20, and that staffing increases need approval from Busan city. [ 9 , 12 ]
Dong-A Ilbo reported that the union's operating services branch also withdrew its strike after reaching a provisional deal with the corporation, covering facility improvements and a labour-management body due in the following month. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said the question of whether the corporation counts as employer in those talks was not resolved. Dong-A Ilbo quoted the union as saying there were institutional limits to dealing with wages and staffing in talks with the parent company. [ 9 , 12 ]
Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo and Asia Economy said the deal must pass a union delegates' congress and a vote of all members before it is final. If it does, the corporation will have gone seven years in a row without a labour dispute. Newsis said the strike would have been the first in seven years, since 2019, and reported that the sides signed at 00:48 on 23 October. Corporation president Kim Tae-ho said the provisional deal resulted from each side giving ground to minimise inconvenience to citizens and keep urban rail stable. [ 9 , 10 , 12 , 14 ]
Why it matters
The deal spared Busan commuters the disruption of a planned strike, which outlets said would have been the first in seven years. The provisional deal leaves some issues open, including the status of the corporation as employer in talks involving its subsidiary, and it still needs union approval.
Key facts
- The corporation and the union reached a provisional agreement at about 23:00 on 22 October at the Nopo rolling stock depot in Geumjeong District, Busan. [ 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 13 ]
- The union withdrew the strike planned from the first train on 23 October, and Busan urban rail ran normally. [ 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The deal includes a 3.5% total wage increase over the previous year and a joint labour-management task force. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 12 ]
- The two sides will ask Busan city for 29 additional staff next year to cover shift vacancies. [ 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The agreement must still pass a union delegates' congress and a vote of all members before it is final. [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Talks in the 19th round of 2026 bargaining began at 15:00 on 22 October; the union declared them broken down at about 21:00. [ 9 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- A provisional agreement was reached at about 23:00 after further negotiation, and the strike due on 23 October was withdrawn. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 ]
- The deal includes a 3.5% wage increase and a joint labour-management task force on field safety staffing. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- The sides will ask Busan city for 29 additional staff next year. [ 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- If the deal is finalised, the corporation will extend its record of seven consecutive years without a labour dispute. [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the agreement is final or provisional. Yonhap and Maeil headlines used the words final settlement, but the article texts of Chosun Ilbo, CBS NoCut News, Dong-A Ilbo, Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy say the deal is provisional and still needs a delegates' vote and a members' vote. Newsis says a final signing took place at 00:48 on 23 October.
- How many new staff were agreed or offered. Newsis says 35 new staff were provisionally agreed for the Yangsan line opening in December, with the union having sought 73. Dong-A Ilbo says the union cut its demand from 100 to 73 and the corporation offered about 20, and reports a request for 29 staff to the city. The documents do not reconcile these figures.
- What happened at 00:48 on 23 October. Newsis says the sides signed the agreement then, after a dispute over wording. Dong-A Ilbo and Asia Economy say the provisional agreement was produced at that time.
- Whether staff increases will be approved. Dong-A Ilbo says staffing increases need Busan city approval.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The 19th round of final bargaining begins at the Nopo rolling stock depot. [ 6 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- The union declares the talks broken down and says it will strike from the first train on 23 October. [ 9 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- After an extra meeting of three representatives from each side, a provisional agreement is reached. Newsis gives 23:05. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 ]
- Newsis reports the sides signed the agreement after a dispute over wording; Dong-A Ilbo and Asia Economy give this as the time the provisional agreement was drawn up. [ 9 , 12 , 14 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that Busan urban rail ran normally from the first train on 23 October. [ 13 ]