Aftermath of Seongsu Remicon Plant Demolition... Union Demands Half of a Car's Price as Transportation Cost

Transport Union: "Only 2-3 cases per day when entering Seoul city, livelihood is difficult... Construction companies must come up with measures"
Ready-mix Concrete Industry: "250,000 won per transport is extortion, faithfully implement the transport agreement from last July"

As five branches of the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions' Ready-Mix Concrete Transport Labor Union in the metropolitan area (Dongnambuk, Anyang, Bucheon, Goyang-Paju, Seongnam-Gwangju) refuse to transport within the four major gates and densely populated areas of Seoul, the ready-mix concrete industry is strongly opposing. Ready-mix concrete vehicles are standing idle without operating.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] "A single truck of ready-mixed concrete costs 490,000 won, so how can the transportation fee be 250,000 won?"

The ready-mixed concrete industry is strongly opposing the transportation refusal by five metropolitan area branches (Dongnambuk, Anyang, Bucheon, Goyang-Paju, Seongnam-Gwangju) of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions Ready-Mixed Concrete Transport Labor Union in the four major gates and densely populated areas of Seoul.

An official from a ready-mixed concrete company said, "Transport operators are demanding about 250,000 won for transportation fees when delivering to the four major gates and densely populated areas in Seoul," adding, "The price for one truck of ready-mixed concrete is about 490,000 won, so it is unreasonable to pay more than half of that as transportation fees."

The ready-mixed concrete transport union has been refusing to transport ready-mixed concrete to downtown areas such as the four major gates of Seoul since early this month. They claim this is due to the disappearance of the largest metropolitan area ready-mixed concrete production plant, Sampyo Seongsu Plant, the implementation of traffic restrictions by Seoul City, severe traffic congestion, reduced turnover, and increased fatigue among union members.

A representative of the ready-mixed concrete transport union said, "If we load ready-mixed concrete at 8 a.m., we return after 1 p.m.," adding, "We need to make 2 to 3 deliveries in the morning just to make a living, but this situation is unsustainable." They argue that due to traffic congestion, they need to make 4 to 5 deliveries a day, but when entering Seoul city, they can only make 2 to 3 deliveries a day, which affects their livelihood.

The official also said, "We repeatedly asked for measures before the Sampyo Seongsu Plant was closed, but Seoul City did not accept them," adding, "The damage should not be passed on to the transporters. The construction companies, who are the beneficiaries, should come up with countermeasures."

The countermeasure demanded by the ready-mixed concrete transport union is ultimately an increase in transportation fees. The Ready-Mixed Concrete Transport Union and the Korea Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Association agreed last July to gradually raise the current 56,000 won per trip transportation fee for ready-mixed concrete in the metropolitan area to 69,700 won by 2024.

An official from the ready-mixed concrete industry said, "Although it is an unofficial demand, charging 250,000 won per delivery for transportation within Seoul city is an unreasonable tyranny," adding, "They should faithfully implement the ready-mixed concrete transport agreement made last July and stop pressuring construction companies who are not parties to the negotiations."

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