Won Hee-ryong "Cabinet meeting resolution completed... Commencement of work order initiated"

Starting with the Cement Sector, Where Logistics Normalization Is Urgent

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] On the 29th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced, "From the moment the Cabinet meeting resolution is completed, work commencement orders will be enforced against those refusing transportation."

Minister Won Hee-ryong stated at the 'Joint Briefing of Related Ministries on the Cargo Solidarity Collective Transportation Refusal' held at the Seoul Government Complex, "This work commencement order is issued targeting the cement sector, which is judged to be the most urgent for logistics normalization, considering the scale of damage and ripple effects."

Minister Won said, "The government considers the national economy to be in a very serious crisis due to the collective transportation refusal and intends to issue work commencement orders against those refusing transportation. Accordingly, transportation operators and drivers in the cement sector must immediately withdraw the collective transportation refusal and return to transportation duties."

If the obligation to return is not fulfilled without justifiable reasons, administrative measures such as suspension of operation and disqualification will be imposed, as well as criminal penalties including imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to 30 million won. Regarding this, Minister Won emphasized, "The work commencement order is not intended to punish drivers and transportation operators but is an unavoidable measure to restore the national logistics network and minimize damage to the national economy."

Minister Won expressed concern that construction sites are being halted due to disruptions in cement transportation. He said, "The damage is becoming increasingly severe, with container imports and exports at major ports decreasing to about 20% compared to normal times. Damage to key industries such as refining, steel, and automobiles is also gradually spreading, putting the entire national economy at risk of collapse."

He added, "It has been six days since the Cargo Solidarity began an indefinite collective transportation refusal. The government has judged that it can no longer overlook the situation caused by the Cargo Solidarity's second collective transportation refusal this year."

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