Gyeongnam Civil Society Groups Warn Government Over Threat to Deploy Public Force in Daewoo Shipbuilding Strike

Former and current representatives of civic groups in the Gyeongnam region held a press conference opposing the deployment of public authority in the strike by the subcontractor branch of the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Metal Workers' Union.
[Image source: Changwon Jungbu Police Station]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] As the physical confrontation, including the deployment of public authority, enters the final countdown amid the prolonged strike of the subcontractor branch of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Metal Union, current and former representatives of civic groups in the Gyeongnam region have come out in opposition.

On the 20th, gathered in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, they declared to the government, which has stated it will respond strictly by viewing the subcontractor branch strike sit-in as illegal activity, that "the oppression of workers will return as a massive boomerang and strike the administration with a heavy blow."

The representatives raised their voices, saying, "President Yoon, can you not hear the desperate cries of 'I cannot live like this anymore,' and do you not see the desperate gaze of the worker confined in a 0.3-pyeong iron cage?"

They criticized, "Is it the action of a president to give orders to deploy public authority after doing nothing, listening to no words, and waiting as long as possible?"

They continued, "The workers' demand is to restore the 30% wage cut, which was reduced when the shipbuilding industry was struggling, now that it has entered a boom period," and urged, "The real boss, the Korea Development Bank, should step in directly to resolve the issue."

The representatives said, "The reason why authoritarian regimes met a miserable end was because they ignored the desperate demands of the people and oppressed them by putting the law first," and added, "If the president cares about the people, the first thing is to understand the harsh reality faced by non-regular workers and strive to resolve their demands."

After the press conference, they met with officials from the provincial police agency to discuss preventing the deployment of public authority and other matters.

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