South Korea To Hire North Korean Defenders For Bus Drivers In Seoul

JAKARTA - North Korean defectors in Seoul will receive training to become shuttle bus drivers as part of a new city's initiative to address chronic driver shortages, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday.

Known as the "maeul" bus in Korean, meaning "villagebus," this vehicle operates on short routes in the local environment.

In recent years, operators have faced labor shortages, as fewer people have applied to replace retired drivers.

According to the city government, a pilot program will be launched in collaboration with the Seoul metropolitan city bus association, where at least 20 North Korean defectors looking for jobs will undergo training this year, quoted from The Korea Times March 13.

This program will take place from March to November. In the early stages, there will be 20 participants although additional slots may be available depending on demand. Registration opens on Friday.

Under this program, selected applicants will receive comprehensive support, which includes education to obtain required qualifications such as Class 1 heavy vehicle licenses, training and full-time work.

The city government will provide financial assistance ranging from 1.5 million to 2.5 million won per person for licensing and living expenses.

The bus association will help job seekers by providing information about transportation companies and arranging job interviews.

Under the law, bus drivers must have at least one year of driving experience after obtaining a bus driver's license.

However, for North Korean defectors, this requirement can be replaced with a five-day training program offered by a state-run education center.

The bus transportation company that employs North Korean defectors can also receive financial support, the city government said.

For example, the Korean Hana Foundation, a public institution that supports North Korean defectors, provides up to 850,000 won per month to four months for companies that employ North Korean defectors as full-time employees.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the pilot program would be equally profitable, providing job opportunities for North Korean defectors, who often face financial difficulties and job barriers.

According to a 2024 survey conducted by the Hana Korean Foundation, the unemployment rate among defectors in Seoul is 11 percent more than three times higher than the 3 percent unemployment rate among the general public in the capital.

In addition, 29 percent of North Korean defectors in Seoul receive basic livelihood benefits, compared to only 3.1 percent of Seoul's population is wider.

The city's new initiative comes months after its proposal to recruit foreign nationals as village bus drivers was rejected by the Ministry of Manpower and Labor in December.

The ministry cites language constraints, visa constraints and issues related to licensing compatibility as a reason for refusal.