In the Survival Competition of the 'Global Jungle,' Strong Labor Unions' 'Chuntu' Intensify

On the morning of the 11th, in front of the Presidential Transition Committee in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, participants including Chairman Yang Kyung-soo of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) urged the government to withdraw its policy of disallowing the KCTU's planned rally on the 13th during a press conference titled "We Demand the New Government Stop Its Pro-Corporate Anti-Labor Policy." (Photo by Yonhap News)

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[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunseok Yoo, Sehee Jang, Chaeseok Moon] As the labor movement's spring struggle (Chuntu) intensifies, the management clocks of major companies such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group are plunging into uncertainty. While fiercely competing for survival in the 'global jungle,' major conglomerates are facing continuous obstacles in discovering future growth engines due to resistance from strong labor unions. Moreover, with the inauguration of the pro-business Yoon Suk-yeol administration approaching, the labor movement's level of struggle is expected to escalate further, increasing the concerns of companies.

According to the industrial sector and police on the 12th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) plans to hold rallies on the 13th in various parts of downtown Seoul, including near the Presidential Transition Committee office, Yeouido, and Gwanghwamun. The police estimate that up to 10,000 people will participate in the rallies.

The KCTU held a press conference the day before, stating, "The president-elect and the transition committee are consistently pursuing anti-labor, anti-people, and pro-chaebol policies," and demanded, "Stop attempts to worsen the Serious Accident Punishment Act, the Non-regular Workers Act, the minimum wage, and labor hour restrictions."

The labor sector has signaled a tough struggle mode ahead, as President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed a stance of "strict punishment for strong unions" and hinted at revisions to the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the minimum wage.

The business community voiced concerns. The Korea Employers Federation criticized in a statement that "amid ongoing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the KCTU's decision to forcibly hold illegal rallies again is a serious challenge to the rule of law."

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In the midst of fierce competition for global dominance and the COVID-19 pandemic, the business community, facing the risk of falling behind in competitiveness, is repeatedly hampered by strong labor unions. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's 'e-Employment Labor Indicators,' the number of labor disputes last year was 119, an increase of 14 from 105 in the previous year. The number of lost workdays due to these disputes reached 471 last year. Lost workdays measure the social loss directly caused by labor disputes. This indicates that despite the severe COVID-19 situation, workplaces where labor unions refused work due to disagreements over working conditions have increased. A business official expressed concern, saying, "In the worst business environment, political struggles aligned with the pro-business new government will act as obstacles to efforts to revive the economy."

Meanwhile, the police plan to deploy more than 5,000 officers, anticipating over 10,000 participants at the KCTU rally and farmers' assembly scheduled for the 13th. They are considering measures such as blocking rallies within the city center or closing access roads like the Gyeongbu Expressway. The court is expected to partially accept the KCTU's injunction request to suspend the rally ban. A police official said, "Regardless of the court's decision, since the rally in the city center may proceed, we will deploy forces according to the expected number of participants based on police intelligence."

As this rally is the first large-scale gathering after the presidential election, it is expected to provide insight into the new government's approach to handling demonstrations. At a press briefing the day before, Choi Gwan-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said, "If the situation threatens public order, we will make judgments based on the situation on the ground, activate order maintenance lines, or designate police deployment points to minimize inconvenience to citizens."

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