Police Chief Kim Chang-ryong: "Immediate Response Policy for Illegal Acts During Cargo Solidarity Strike"

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, announced on the 7th that he will respond immediately to the illegal activities of the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters (Cargo Solidarity) of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union, which began an indefinite general strike from midnight.

Through internal instructions on the same day, Commissioner Kim ordered, "Provincial police chiefs and commanders at all levels should actively command the situation on-site when illegal acts occur and actively utilize available personnel according to the status of the police stations, as if on emergency duty." He also emphasized, "Since the strike may be prolonged and fatigue among workers may increase, review an appropriate work system suitable for the expected situation in each region."

Commissioner Kim stated, "There must be no situation where illegal acts or resulting transportation disruptions are left unattended," and added, "When illegal acts occur, on-site measures require organic cooperation among all functions including security, intelligence, traffic, criminal investigation, investigation, and community policing." He further urged, "Establish appropriate personnel deployment plans by function with the principle of on-site arrest of illegal actors as much as possible," and "Resolve illegal situations early."

He also pointed out, "This Cargo Solidarity transportation refusal involves the use of large vehicles for illicit transportation obstruction and guerrilla-style illegal acts against normal transport vehicles, making immediate response difficult when transportation obstruction occurs," and reiterated, "Minimize illegal logistics transportation obstruction factors through thorough prior preparation."

Earlier, on the 5th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated at the ministerial meeting for national agenda review that while the exercise of rights permitted by law will be firmly protected, illegal acts will be strictly punished, which is the government's principle regarding the Cargo Solidarity general strike. Accordingly, the police have continuously emphasized on-site arrest and punishment of illegal actors under the same policy.