[2022 National Audit] Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Demand Ssangyong Motor Compensation Lawsuit Withdrawal... Police Chief Says "Need to See Supreme Court Ruling"

Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun Faces Criticism Over Different Response Attitudes Toward Ruling and Opposition Parties

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Despite demands from both ruling and opposition parties to withdraw the police’s lawsuit seeking damages against the Ssangyong Motor labor union, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated that there is no intention to drop the lawsuit. During this process, criticism arose that Commissioner Yoon’s responses differed depending on whether he was addressing ruling or opposition lawmakers.

At the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee’s National Police Agency audit on the 7th, lawmakers from both sides requested Commissioner Yoon to withdraw the damages lawsuit against the Ssangyong Motor labor union. In May 2009, after a large-scale layoff, Ssangyong workers occupied the Ssangyong Motor production plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and went on strike for 77 days. During this period, injuries to police officers and facility damages occurred, leading Ssangyong Motor and the police to file a damages lawsuit against 67 striking workers. The compensation amount, including delayed interest, is approximately 2.92 billion KRW.

Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker from the Basic Income Party, questioned, "Ahead of the state damages ruling against Ssangyong Motor, workers and their families are receiving psychiatric treatment due to mental pressure," adding, "Last year, a resolution urging the withdrawal of the Ssangyong damages lawsuit was passed in the plenary session, so the grounds for withdrawal are in place. Is there no intention to withdraw?"

Commissioner Yoon responded, "The Supreme Court’s final decision is pending," and said, "I will decide after the final ruling." When Lawmaker Yong asked, "The public will not understand the National Police Agency continuing the damages lawsuit against Ssangyong Motor," Commissioner Yoon reiterated, "I understand the intent, but we are awaiting the judiciary’s final judgment," indicating no intention to withdraw the lawsuit.

Even lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party inquired about the intention to withdraw the lawsuit. Kim Woong, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "The Ssangyong Motor labor union has withdrawn from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and proposed self-rescue plans, showing change," adding, "If the lawsuit is withdrawn, it would be meaningful in terms of the progressive camp not forgetting history and the conservative camp reconciling for the future." Commissioner Yoon briefly replied, "Understood."

During this process, Commissioner Yoon’s response attitude also came under scrutiny. Lawmaker Yong protested, "When I asked about handling the damages lawsuit, I was refused answers four times, but when ruling party lawmaker Kim Woong asked, he replied, 'Understood.' This manner of responding is problematic." In response, Lee Chae-ik, Chair of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, told Commissioner Yoon, "Please take this seriously and respond carefully." Commissioner Yoon agreed with Chair Lee’s remark, and the criticism regarding his response attitude was settled for the time being.