[Reporter’s Notebook] The Tragedy of HiteJinro’s Illegal Strike

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The strike by truck owners affiliated with HiteJinro's freight transportation subcontractors has been ongoing for four months. On the 9th, a fatal accident occurred near the Icheon factory due to illegally parked trucks. It was a tragedy caused by trucks occupying the entrance road and streets near the Icheon factory.

At the time, a passenger car passing by collided with a 14-ton truck parked illegally on the shoulder, and the driver died at the scene. Although the exact circumstances of the accident have not yet been confirmed, illegal parking of such large vehicles often obstructs the driver's visibility and is frequently cited as a cause of rear-end collisions. The truck owners have continued to illegally park their trucks near the factory entrance road and have maintained this situation until now.

Some have called this incident a "man-made disaster." There had already been a contact accident last month caused by illegally parked vehicles, and safety concerns were continuously raised at the site, but the local government in charge remained passive, allowing the situation to escalate.

HiteJinro had sent official letters to Icheon City Hall and the Icheon Police Station requesting crackdowns on illegally parked vehicles. However, the local government, which should actively enforce regulations, has taken no significant measures beyond issuing illegal parking tickets. They appeared to shift responsibility to the police, claiming there is no legal basis to use physical force. As a result, with a fatal accident occurring, it has become difficult for them to avoid responsibility for their passive response.

Although it is a case of "locking the barn after the horse is lost," the local government must take active measures now. If second or third innocent victims emerge, even the barn may be lost. There can be no exceptions when it comes to safety issues. They must no longer evade responsibility by repeatedly saying "there is no way." Illegal acts should be dealt with according to principles.

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