[Opinion] The Era of Lost 'Sangsaeng'

Published 14 Dec.2022 11:38(KST)

On the 9th, the Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal strike ended after 16 days. The government estimated that the damage to industries such as cement, refining, and steel caused by this strike amounted to approximately 4.14 trillion won. This is twice the damage caused by the Cargo Solidarity strike in June this year (about 2 trillion won).

The burden of damage in conflict situations falls entirely on the public. The same was true during the Seoul subway union strike. Even when people hurriedly left their homes, subway delays caused them to be late for appointments, and during rush hour, the sudden influx of transferring subway passengers created dangerous situations.

Conflicts at construction sites are no exception. At an apartment construction site bustling with work during commuting hours, workers have recently been nowhere to be seen. A few days later, a large banner is hung near the construction site. In big, clear letters under the name of the apartment residents' representative across the street, it reads: "Handle noise damage according to the law. XX company, reflect on yourselves."

According to site officials, this is the result of a failed agreement on compensation for damages caused by unexpected hard rock crushing work during underground construction. Due to excessive compensation demands from the complainants, the construction company, after much deliberation, applied for mediation through the Noise Dispute Mediation Committee under the Ministry of Environment. Rather than easing the conflict, the situation worsened during this process. As second and third complaints continued to be raised, the site entered a near shutdown state.

If such conflicts persist, regardless of the damages to both sides, innocent victims including prospective residents inevitably arise. In the rush to advance the completion date, the risk of accidents increases. The longer the construction is delayed, the harder it becomes to reach an agreement on appropriate compensation.

Our society is rife with a culture where loud demands are favored over the virtue of patience. The absurd term ‘ttebeop’ (mob law) has even emerged. Many people act as if "if you pester and trouble the other party, you can gain benefits." However, if one disregards the circumstances or conditions of the other side and insists only on their own position, both sides inevitably suffer losses.

Watching the conflict between the site and nearby residents, I recalled a conversation with a CS (Customer Satisfaction) executive from a certain construction company. Recently, they complained about the many unreasonable demands from residents directed at the construction company. They said dealing with complainants who use harsh language and unreasonable claims is mentally exhausting. It feels like half of the mentally ill live in hospitals and the other half live in apartments.

The Cargo Solidarity returned empty-handed without achieving any significant results from this strike. The general strike by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also ended weakly. The primary credit for this outcome goes to the government, which upheld laws and principles despite economic losses, and to the public who supported and endured this stance.

During the strike, a large portion of the public expressed the opinion that the government should uphold laws and principles to prevent unions or complainants from using ‘ttebeop’ again. However, past governments often failed to respond according to laws and principles and tended to yield to demands. Going forward, it is hoped that cases like this Cargo Solidarity strike, where the government adheres to laws and principles, will accumulate and the term ‘ttebeop’ will disappear.

Whether it is labor disputes or complaints, as long as one side defines itself as good and the other as evil, coexistence is impossible. We all hope to transform into a society of coexistence where everyone considers others and harmonizes.