Despite Negotiation Settlement, HiteJinro Factory Still Faces Shipping Delays: "Cargo Trucks Occupying Roads"

Despite Agreement Between Ministry of Land and Cargo Solidarity
HiteJinro Factory Still on Strike
Illegal Parking Disrupts Factory Access
Icheon City Hall "No Legal Basis for Towing"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Cargo Solidarity reached an agreement with the government and withdrew the strike after seven days of a total strike, logistics movement is still disrupted at the Hite Jinro factory where the strike first began.

According to the industry on the 15th, the strike by truck owners affiliated with Suyang Logistics at the Hite Jinro Icheon factory is still ongoing as of this day. The Cheongju factory is reported to be in a similar situation. Earlier, about 130 truck owners belonging to Suyang Logistics, a cargo transportation subcontractor, joined the KCTU-affiliated Cargo Solidarity at the end of March and went on strike. Since then, the shipment of soju products has been disrupted at the Icheon and Cheongju factories, which handle 70% of Hite Jinro's total soju production. At one point, the product shipment rate dropped to 38% of the normal level. Currently, the shipment rate at the Icheon and Cheongju factories is about 70% of the usual level.

Separately from the negotiations between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Cargo Solidarity regarding the Safe Freight Rate System, they are demanding increases in transportation fees and empty bottle transportation fees, as well as payments for vehicle advertising costs, idling, and waiting time.

Truck owners' vehicles are still parked around the main gate road of the Icheon factory, making it difficult to enter the factory. Hite Jinro previously sent an official letter requesting crackdowns to the Icheon City Hall and Icheon Police Station. On the other hand, the local government, Icheon City Hall, has not taken any special measures other than conducting illegal parking crackdowns on-site. This is because there is no legal basis to use physical force or other methods. A representative from the Icheon City Hall Traffic Administration Department said, "At present, there is no way other than imposing fines on illegally parked vehicles."

The Icheon Police Station is still controlling traffic on-site. On the 13th, the police arrested union member A on charges of obstructing traffic flow on roads around the Icheon factory with cargo vehicles. Earlier, on the 8th, 15 union members at the Icheon factory were arrested for illegal acts such as stopping a 3.5-ton truck loaded with alcoholic beverages by getting under it. Among them, branch chief B was detained.

Suyang Logistics is negotiating with the truck owners, but if this situation continues, delays in shipments are expected to be unavoidable for the time being.

Meanwhile, on the 15th, with the withdrawal of the strike, OB Beer has resumed normal product shipments from the three factories in Icheon, Cheongju, and Gwangju starting that day. OB Beer, which produces products at the three factories in Icheon, Cheongju, and Gwangju, saw beer shipments drop to about 20% of the usual level due to the Cargo Solidarity strike. An OB Beer official said, "Logistics normalized from 10 a.m. today, and we plan to increase shipments by more than 100%. We were very concerned as beer shipments were less than half during the past week due to the Cargo Solidarity strike, so we are relieved that normalization has been achieved."

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