Police Arrest 43 Members of Cargo Solidarity Union for Illegal Activities During Five-Day Total Strike

Cargo Solidarity Union holding a publicity campaign in front of Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] As of the morning of the fifth day of the general strike by the Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (Cargo Solidarity), 43 union members have been confirmed to have been arrested on-site by the police on charges of illegal activities.

According to the National Police Agency, from midnight on the 7th, when the Cargo Solidarity began the general strike, until noon on the 11th, 43 people were arrested on the spot on charges including obstruction of business. The number of arrests until the morning of the previous day was 30, but 13 more were arrested in one day, including 6 who were detained for injuring police officers at Busan New Port Samgeori in the morning of the day. By region, Gyeonggi Nambu had the highest number with 22, followed by Busan with 8, Gwangju 1, Ulsan 4, Chungnam 6, and Jeonnam 2.

Earlier, on the 5th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated at a meeting of ministers in charge of national affairs that while the exercise of rights permitted by law related to the Cargo Solidarity general strike would be firmly protected, illegal acts would be strictly punished, which is the government's principle. Under this policy, the police have continuously emphasized on-site arrests and punishments of those committing illegal acts. Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency also emphasized to staff through internal instructions on the first day of the general strike that there would be an "immediate response policy to illegal acts."

On the first day of the general strike, the police first arrested four union members on charges of obstructing the passage of cargo vehicles and injuring riot police officers at the Ulsan petrochemical complex. On the 8th, 15 people were arrested on the spot for obstructing business in front of the Hite Jinro factory in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. A detention warrant was requested for a senior union member who held an illegal rally in front of the Icheon factory, and the court issued the warrant the day before.