Seoul: The Seoul city government announced plans to hire foreigners as "maeul" bus drivers in an effort to address a persistent manpower shortage in the transportation sector. Maeul buses, which operate on short routes within local areas, are essential for connecting residents to major bus stops and subway stations. The bus industry has long highlighted the need for foreign drivers to fill labor gaps. According to Yonhap News Agency, the city government recently requested the Office for Government Policy Coordination (OPC) to expand the eligibility of non-professional employment (E-9) visas to include the transportation industry. Additionally, they suggested extending the work period for foreign drivers holding E-9 visas from three to five years. The OPC has forwarded these recommendations to the Ministry of Employment and Labor for further review. A city government official noted the challenges in securing manpower for maeul bus drivers, emphasizing the issue of an aging workforce. The official expressed o ptimism that if the labor ministry resolves the visa concerns within the year, a pilot project could commence next year. The labor ministry has committed to a thorough review of the visa issue, taking into account the qualifications, skills, and nature of work required in the city bus transportation industry. Currently, the E-9 visa is designated for non-professional foreign employees in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and livestock. While foreigners can work as bus drivers through the work and visit (H-2) visa or the overseas Korean (F-4) visa, the latter is limited to foreign nationals of Korean descent or marriage immigrants. As a result, foreigners make up less than 2 percent of Seoul's maeul bus driving workforce.