Yangcheon-gu, Yangcheon Cultural Foundation Strongly Responds to Illegal Occupation of District Office Building

Yangcheon-gu Official Statement on 'Illegal Occupation Incident Inside District Office by Yangcheon Cultural Foundation Union Members'

Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced on the afternoon of the 13th that it will respond firmly to the violent illegal actions related to the incident where more than 160 members of the Yangcheon Cultural Foundation labor union illegally occupied the interior of the district office building demanding improved working conditions.

Yangcheon-gu established the Yangcheon Cultural Foundation in 2019 to promote local community culture and arts and enhance cultural welfare for residents, entrusting the efficient operation of the district public libraries and Yangcheon Culture Hall to the foundation.

The Cultural Foundation and the labor union have been engaged in collective bargaining since the end of last year but failed to reach an agreement. Subsequently, following the union’s application for mediation to the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission, two mediation meetings were held, but due to sharp disagreements between labor and management, the mediation committee ultimately decided to suspend mediation.

After acquiring the right to strike, the union has been conducting labor disputes by requesting meetings with the district mayor, even though negotiations should be held with the management side, the Cultural Foundation, and during this process, they have repeatedly attempted to enter the district office building.

In particular, on the 13th, the union used the pretext of meeting with the district mayor to illegally occupy the interior of the district office building and carried out actions that paralyzed the district office’s functions for resident services.

Moreover, an unfortunate incident occurred where the microphone of an employee who requested an eviction order out of concern for residents’ safety was even taken away.

Accordingly, Yangcheon-gu stated that it will respond firmly to the illegal actions of the Cultural Foundation labor union related to the current situation.

◇ Full official statement from Yangcheon District Office

We will respond firmly to the illegal actions of the Yangcheon Cultural Foundation labor union.

Despite disruptions to the operation of public libraries caused by the labor disputes of the Cultural Foundation union, we have made efforts to find reasonable solutions.

Nevertheless, more than 160 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers’ Union gathered en masse, illegally occupying the interior of the district office building under the pretext of meeting with the district mayor, and carried out actions that paralyzed the district office’s functions for resident services. They also threatened by taking away the microphone of an employee who requested an eviction order out of concern for residents’ safety.

Yangcheon-gu has urged the prompt normalization of the Cultural Foundation’s operations, but it can no longer tolerate the current situation where illegal acts are being committed.

Since the launch of the Cultural Foundation in 2019, Yangcheon-gu has actively supported it to the extent of increasing the foundation’s operating budget by more than 200% within three years.

Such a significant increase in financial investment was made, and efforts have been made to improve the working conditions of foundation employees by converting non-regular workers to regular positions, raising base salaries annually, and increasing various allowances to enhance welfare.

Nevertheless, this year the union demands a salary increase of around 28%. The Cultural Foundation has consistently proposed increases in allowances, including the maximum base salary suggested by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, but the union has only made unilateral demands and engaged in violent forms of struggle.

We cannot compromise with the union’s behavior that treats residents’ tax money as something to be extorted by throwing tantrums. If the situation worsens, we will begin reviewing the operation of the Cultural Foundation, including the entrusted library services.

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