'Violent Protest' Hyundai Motor Union Members Ordered to Pay 28 Million Won in Damages

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The Supreme Court has ruled that union officials who led violent protests demanding the regularization of Hyundai Motor's non-regular workers must pay 28 million won in damages.

On the 13th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Noh Jeonghee) announced that it upheld the appellate court's ruling partially in favor of the plaintiff in the damages lawsuit filed by Hyundai Motor against seven non-regular union officials, including Mr. A.

In July 2013, Mr. A and others clashed with employees while entering the company premises in Ulsan, demanding the regularization of non-regular workers. The protest also involved union officials from civic groups such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions who came from Seoul on the so-called "Hope Bus."

During this process, company employees and union officials were injured, and the company fence was damaged. The company filed a lawsuit against the union officials claiming 200 million won in damages, reflecting production disruptions and fence repair costs.

The first trial court judged the protest led by Mr. A and others as an illegal protest involving violence and held the union liable for damages. However, it did not accept the company's claim for losses due to factory shutdowns and only recognized liability for the fence repair cost of 28 million won.

Mr. A and others appealed, but the appellate court rejected the appeal. The Supreme Court also dismissed Mr. A's appeal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.