Park Doo-sun, Daewoo Shipbuilding President, on Subcontractor Union's Compensation Lawsuit: "It's for Compliance Management"

On the afternoon of the 5th, Park Doo-seon, CEO of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, who appeared as a witness at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City, is responding to questions from lawmakers.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] On the 5th, Park Doo-sun, CEO of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), addressed the controversy over the "47 billion KRW damage claim" against the subcontractor union that carried out an illegal strike in June this year, stating that it is "to ensure compliance with lawful management."

CEO Park appeared as a witness at the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee audit held in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 5th and made these remarks.

On this day, Park firmly expressed his intention to have the court judge the illegal actions of the subcontractor union. He said, "Since the company has incurred damages, it must make decisions considering economic stakeholders such as shareholders and creditors," adding, "Whether the subcontractor union’s actions were illegal and the amount of damages will be determined by the court."

When Jin Sung-jun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked, "I don’t think you will receive the 47 billion KRW, but did you file the claim just for the shareholders’ sake?" Park replied, "It is difficult to answer whether we will receive the claimed amount or not."

The DSME subcontractor branch conducted an illegal strike for 51 days starting June 2 at the Geoje Okpo Shipyard. During this period, the subcontractor branch illegally occupied Dock 1, causing the first-ever suspension of the ship launching ceremony in the company’s 50-year history. DSME estimated damages of about 800 billion KRW due to the 51-day illegal occupation of Dock 1 by the subcontractor union. Considering the swift recovery after work resumed and the subcontractor union’s ability to pay, the damage claim was set at 47 billion KRW.

Regarding the counter-rally held by about 3,500 DSME employees in response to the subcontractor union’s strike, Park clarified, "It was not mobilized at the company level." He explained, "I understand that each department head approved it on their own, and almost all participants were field employees." When Rep. Jin asked again, "Was it at a level that did not disrupt work?" Park answered, "Work was halted due to the subcontractor union’s illegal occupation, so there was no work to be disrupted."

Park denied allegations that the company mobilized buses for the counter-rally. He explained that employees used the company’s regularly operated shuttle buses. Park said, "(The company) did not condone or overlook the counter-rally. The employees must have been desperate to act that way. I think they did it out of a sense that mutual destruction was possible."

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