"Additional NCC Cuts in Yeosu Due to Ulsan... Local Economy Devastated"

Additional Reduction Demanded Due to Ulsan
Calls to Address Imbalance in Regional Production Cuts

Workers at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex have called on the government to withdraw its plan for additional cuts at naphtha cracking centers (NCC) as requested by the authorities.

Representatives of the Yeosu Industrial Complex labor union held a press conference at the National Assembly's communication center on March 18, stating, "The government is unilaterally pushing for production adjustments in petrochemical complexes without any measures for job security or the local economy," and warned, "If additional production cuts are made, employment and the regional economy will be devastated."

Lotte Chemical Daesan Plant. Lotte Chemical

According to labor groups, the government’s existing reduction target is between 2.7 million and 3.7 million tons. So far, 3.43 million tons have been reduced, of which 1.67 million tons came from the Yeosu complex—accounting for about 49% of the total cuts.

The government is reportedly demanding an additional reduction of 900,000 to 1 million tons from the Yeosu National Industrial Complex. This demand is being made in consideration of the expansion resulting from the soon-to-be-operational S-Oil "Shaheen Project" under construction in Ulsan. S-Oil is set to complete the world’s largest single ethylene production facility with a capacity of 1.8 million tons.

The labor community does not oppose restructuring itself, but they are concerned about the potential job losses and negative impact on the local community arising from the additional cuts.

Workers at the Yeosu complex are demanding: ▲an immediate halt to further production cuts; ▲designation of Yeosu as an employment crisis area; ▲formation of a four-party consultative body involving the government, local authorities, companies, and labor; ▲a resolution of regional imbalances in production cuts; and ▲improvements to related laws and systems.

Assemblyman Jeon Jongdeok of the Progressive Party stated, "Unilateral restructuring that excludes those on the ground is not a solution, but merely the beginning of another crisis," emphasizing, "A multilateral consultative body with active worker participation must be established to protect jobs and provide practical alternatives for revitalizing the local community."

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