Democratic Party Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly Member: "Deployment of Public Authority Will Create a Second Ssangyong Motor Incident"

Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly members held a press conference on the 21st to oppose the deployment of public authority in response to the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Metal Workers' Union subcontractor branch strike. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] Amid the so-called 'final ultimatum' of deploying public authority in the 50-day ongoing strike by the subcontractor union of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly members have come forward to oppose it.

On the 21st, Assembly members Ryu Kyung-wan, Son Deok-sang, Han Sang-hyun, and Yoo Hyung-jun held a press conference at the provincial assembly briefing room, stating, "We are not here to take sides, but we stand here with the urgent plea that at least the deployment of public authority must be prevented."

The members emphasized, "The striking workers are citizens of Geoje and residents of Gyeongnam, as well as our neighbors. While the deployment of public authority may dismantle the strike site in front of us, it does not extinguish the root of the problem."

They continued, "The remaining embers will seep into the workers and into us, destroying individual lives, families, and communities."

Referring to the Ssangyong Motor union strike over ten years ago, they said, "At that time, the deployment of public authority seemed to superficially resolve the issue, but the social repercussions and wounds are still ongoing."

According to the assembly members, 50 workers who refused the workplace closure order were criminally prosecuted, and 30 workers who were driven out of their workplaces suffered from mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder and took their own lives.

There is a survey result showing that half of the Ssangyong Motor families seriously contemplated suicide, and a court ruling was later made declaring the Ssangyong Motor layoffs unjust.

The assembly members stressed, "There is no money more precious than life," and urged, "Even if it takes time and causes losses, the issue must be resolved through dialogue."

They appealed, "Not a single resident of Gyeongnam should be harmed," adding, "The deployment of public authority will not end the situation but will be the prologue to another tragedy."

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