Metalworkers' Union Simultaneous General Strike in Seoul and Geoje... Police "Strict Response"

Protest Rally Planned in Samgakji and in Front of Daewoo Shipbuilding... Possible Clashes with Police
Concerns from Religious Groups... Government May Retreat from Hardline Stance and Compromise

On the 13th, members of the Metal Workers' Union held a rally in front of the Industrial Bank of Korea in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding a wage increase for subcontracted workers at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The summer labor struggle triggered by the strike of the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) subcontractor union is intensifying. The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), the upper-level organization of the subcontractor union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), plans to hold a large-scale general strike rally in Seoul and Geoje on the afternoon of the 20th, raising concerns about potential physical clashes with the police.

The KMWU will hold the "KMWU General Strike Seoul Rally" at around 2:30 p.m. in front of Exit 12 of Seoul Station. Union members will march from Seoul Station toward the Yongsan Presidential Office and then hold the general strike rally near Samgakji. The KMWU expects about 100,000 participants at the rally. Around the same time, KMWU members from the Yeongnam and Honam regions will gather in front of Daewoo Shipbuilding in Geoje to support the subcontractor union's struggle.

The government's response to the subcontractor union strike appears to have softened from a hardline stance. President Yoon Suk-yeol mentioned on the morning of the previous day that "we have waited long enough," implying the possibility of deploying public authority, but he did not provide any specific response on the morning of the 20th. As the KCTU opposed this and concerns arose from opposition parties and religious groups, there is a possibility of attempting a dramatic compromise through negotiations.

The subcontractor union and labor groups claim that the responsibility for the strike lies with the primary contractor, Daewoo Shipbuilding, and the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), which holds a 55.7% stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding. The subcontractor union reportedly demanded dialogue and negotiations with KDB and the primary contractor before Daewoo Shipbuilding enters a two-week vacation starting on the 23rd. Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, said, "The union has already made maximum concessions. Now it is time for KDB and the Daewoo Shipbuilding primary union to respond." Sixty-seven civic, labor, and religious organizations will gather "Hope Buses" departing from various regions on the 23rd to the strike site and hold a rally in support of the strike. Yoon Jang-hyuk, chairman of the KMWU, said, "If the Daewoo Shipbuilding subcontractor union issue is not resolved, we will launch a second and third phase of struggle to judge the Yoon Suk-yeol government."

The police plan to respond strictly to illegal assemblies and protests while preparing for unexpected situations. The police also prohibited prior assemblies and marches for the KCTU National Workers' Rally on the 2nd and strongly dealt with illegal acts by the union. A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said, "We have always responded firmly to labor strikes and assemblies with a strict stance," adding, "Although the situation differs from Daewoo Shipbuilding because the rally was reported, we will manage it accordingly."

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