[On-site Video] Metalworkers' Union General Strike Rally... "Victory in Daewoo Shipbuilding Struggle"

Minister of Labor Lee Jeong-sik Visits Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering for Second Day
Suggests Preparing Support Measures Upon Resolution of Labor-Management Issues

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] The Korean Metal Workers' Union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, declared a general strike on the 20th, demanding a resolution to the subcontracted workers' issues at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and a labor-centered industrial transition. The Geoje-Tongyeong-Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontracted Branch of the Metal Workers' Union has been on strike since the 2nd of last month, demanding a 30% wage increase and recognition of union activities such as full-time union officials.

The Metal Workers' Union held a rally near Exit 12 of Seoul Station around 2:30 PM that day. They urged the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and DSME to promptly resolve the subcontracted workers' strike. They also demanded improvements in the labor policies of the Yoon Suk-yeol government.

Members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union held a general strike resolution rally near Seoul Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 20th. The photo shows members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union marching from near Seoul Station toward Samgakji Station. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon, PD yoon@

The union members marched along two lanes of Hangang-daero, covering a 1.8 km route from Seoul Station to the Yongsan Presidential Office. During the march, the members chanted slogans such as “Achieve labor-government negotiations,” “Achieve wage increases,” “Guarantee the right to live,” and “Prepare for police intervention.”

Members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union held a general strike rally on the afternoon of the 20th near Seoul Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The photo shows members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union holding a sign that reads "Victory in the Daewoo Shipbuilding Subcontractor Struggle" and shouting slogans. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon, PD yoon@

After marching to Exit 10 of Samgakji Station near the Yoon Suk-yeol Presidential Office, the members continued the main rally. Negotiations between DSME management and labor failed to narrow the gap over the 30% wage increase demand, but on the 19th, the parties reduced the range to 4.5% from management and 5% from the union side.

On the 20th, Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, visited DSME's Okpo Shipyard and stated, “If labor and management resolve the issues autonomously and peacefully, we will prepare various support measures for structural problems.”

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