CU Franchisees File Criminal Complaints Against Cargo Solidarity Executives and Union Members for Special Destruction of Property

Damages from Strike Lead to Complaint Filed with Daegu Dongbu Police Station
"Ignoring Compensation Demands... Additional Civil and Criminal Lawsuits Planned"
First Round: Recruiting 500 Franchise Owners to Join Damages Suit

The CU Franchisees Council, composed of franchise owners of CU convenience stores operated by BGF Retail, has initiated legal action against the Cargo Solidarity, which is under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The council seeks to hold the Cargo Solidarity accountable for damages incurred during last month's strike.

On May 19, the CU Franchisees Council announced that it had filed a complaint with the Daegu Dongbu Police Station against the Cargo Solidarity’s executive board and union members. The complaint lists charges including special destruction of property, obstruction of business, co-principal offense, and obstruction of general traffic.

Last month, due to the strike by the Cargo Solidarity under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, some CU logistics centers and production facilities were blocked, causing disruptions in the supply of products including ready-to-eat meals. A notice explaining the situation is posted at a CU store. Reader tip.

According to the complaint, the Cargo Solidarity conducted a strike from April 5 to April 30, during which it blockaded the BGF Jinju Center located in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang Province. During this period, they restricted access to logistics vehicles and damaged 100 meters of the logistics center’s entrance doors and fences. The complaint also accuses union members of unauthorized entry into the logistics center, damaging property by defecating and urinating on stored goods and flower beds, and obstructing business operations.

The council stated that similar illegal actions also took place at the BGF Naju Center located in Ungok-dong, Naju-si, South Jeolla Province. Cargo Solidarity members blockaded this center, disrupting the flow of logistics. They illegally installed and parked more than 10 tents and over 20 trucks on nearby green spaces and roads, resulting in damage to trees and causing significant inconvenience to citizens passing through the area.

Previously, on May 4, the council sent a certified letter to the Cargo Solidarity, demanding a pledge to prevent recurrence, a public apology, and a compensation plan for damages amounting to 14.04 billion won by May 15. The council warned that if its demands were not met by the deadline, it would pursue strong legal measures, including a lawsuit for damages and criminal charges. However, after the Cargo Solidarity sent a certified letter to the council on May 12, demanding the withdrawal of the damage claim and legal action, the council stated that there has been no further response to date, prompting it to proceed with legal action.

Choi Jongyeol, chairman of the CU Franchisees Council, said, “Cargo Solidarity is ignoring the severe financial damage and suffering of over 18,800 CU franchise owners for its own interests. Starting with this criminal complaint, we will continue to pursue all prepared civil and criminal legal procedures, including a claim for damages, until full accountability is achieved.”

Meanwhile, since May 12, the council has begun the first round of recruiting 500 franchise owners who suffered losses from the Cargo Solidarity strike to participate in the damages suit. The council is currently finalizing preparations for filing the damages claim, including verifying information on the stores that have applied and confirming the specific scale of damages.

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