'First Button' Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency's Strict Response
Surprised by the Level of Response from the National Police Agency
Seoul Police Agency Likely to Follow the Same Tone
On the 18th, the third day of the protest by the Cargo Solidarity of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a large banner with their demands was hung on the exterior wall of the HiteJinro headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where they have been occupying the building. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Cho, Sehee Jang, Byungseon Gong] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's response to the members of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity who have occupied the HiteJinro headquarters is expected to take a tough stance. Since police agencies in various provinces have already taken strict measures such as arresting those caught in the act during the preliminary stage of this incident?the group sit-in at the HiteJinro factories?it is analyzed that the Seoul Police Agency will continue this approach.
On the afternoon of the 17th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent operational staff, including the head of the security department, to the HiteJinro headquarters to assess the extent of obstruction and risks caused by the Cargo Solidarity union members. After inspecting the interior, Seoul police officials refrained from commenting when asked by reporters about the possibility of deploying public authority. Many inside and outside the police view this inspection as a preliminary step toward intervention by public authority. It is known that the Seoul Police Agency has begun pre-investigation before formal charges against the Cargo Solidarity members and is reviewing whether to proceed with legal action.
Previously, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, Chungbuk Police Agency, and Gangwon Police Agency have taken a tough stance against Cargo Solidarity members who have been conducting illegal protests at HiteJinro factories in Icheon, Chungju, and Hongcheon since June. As of early this month, 68 people were arrested in the act, with three of them detained. A police official said, "Since the provinces have taken such a hard line, it will be difficult for Seoul to respond leniently."
Inside the police, there are reports of surprise at the level of response by the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, which took the lead in suppressing the illegal protests at the HiteJinro Icheon factory, the initial trigger of this incident. The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency arrested the largest number of Cargo Solidarity members caught in the act?37 people. The first detention case in this incident also came from the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency. Earlier in June, the agency detained Cargo Solidarity executive member Hwang, suspected of obstructing business by blocking shipment vehicles at the HiteJinro Icheon factory. Hwang was indicted while in detention and was sentenced to a suspended prison term by the first-instance court the day before.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency did not stop at legal action but also conducted traffic enforcement. They urgently designated the roads around the factory as "No Parking Zones" under the Road Traffic Act, providing grounds for cracking down on illegal parking. Subsequently, they enforced regulations against overnight parking outside garages and illegal parking violations. As a result, as of early this month, 1,113 cases of overnight parking outside garages were detected, and fines of 200,000 KRW were imposed on 239 cases. Additionally, two drivers faced administrative license suspensions (40 days), three vehicles were forcibly towed or removed, and 14 other violations were issued notices, achieving significant results.
Amid the tough response by the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, the shipment volume of alcoholic beverages from the HiteJinro Icheon factory has rapidly normalized. Shipment volume from the Icheon factory increased by 26.4% to 3,319,904 boxes in June compared to 2,619,715 boxes the previous year, when the suppression began. In July, 2,679,034 boxes were shipped, a 21.6% increase compared to 2,202,532 boxes in the same period last year. Cargo Solidarity members, blocked by the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency's response, reportedly shifted their main protest locations to the Cheongju and Hongcheon factories.
Within the police, the occupation of the HiteJinro headquarters is seen as the Cargo Solidarity members' "last stronghold." A police official said, "From the union's perspective, if they cannot find a compromise with HiteJinro management during this headquarters occupation, they will have nowhere else to go and nothing else they can do." It is also analyzed that some union members occupying the rooftop of the HiteJinro headquarters and bringing in flammable substances like thinner to escalate the occupation and protest intensity are not unrelated to this background.
Although a tough response is expected to prevail, there is also a strong call for caution. Hastily enforcing a forced eviction could lead to union members jumping from the rooftop, and road blockades in downtown Seoul could cause inconvenience to citizens. The Seoul Police Agency currently estimates that about 30 to 40 union members are on the first floor of the HiteJinro headquarters, with around 10 on the rooftop.
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