Government Calls Strike "Unjustified Selfish Act"... Preparing First-Ever Transport Commencement Order Card

"Massive Damage to National Economy and Citizens' Lives... Immediate Withdrawal Demanded"

On the 24th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced a statement urging the withdrawal of the Cargo Solidarity transport refusal at the briefing room of the Government Seoul Office. The announcement was made in the presence of Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor; Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice; Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Cho Seung-hwan, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries; Bang Moon-gyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination; Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency; and Jang Young-jin, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

As the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (Cargo Solidarity) launched an indefinite general strike, the government announced a tough response by even pulling out the 'Order to Commence Transportation' card.

Despite frequent strikes in the past, the Order to Commence Transportation has never been issued until now. If transport workers refuse this order, they face imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

The Act on the Transportation Business of Freight Vehicles allows the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to issue an order to commence work if transport operators or workers collectively refuse freight transportation without just cause, causing significant disruption to freight transport.

On the 24th, the government held a 'Joint Government Briefing on the Cargo Solidarity's Collective Transportation Refusal' at the Government Seoul Office, stating, "We urge the immediate withdrawal of the collective transportation refusal that is causing enormous damage to the national economy and people's lives."

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who delivered the announcement, criticized the Cargo Solidarity strike, saying, "At a time when everyone should be working together to overcome the economic downturn, the Cargo Solidarity's forced collective transportation refusal is a very selfish act that holds the national economy hostage, lacking both legitimacy and justification."

Minister Won said, "If this collective transportation refusal without just cause leads to a very serious crisis for the national economy, we will also issue an order to commence work based on the Act on the Transportation Business of Freight Vehicles." He added, "If workers do not return to work despite the order to commence work, legal measures will be taken without exception," issuing a warning.

He left room regarding the timing and targets. Minister Won stated, "Since this is the first time in history that such an order will be issued, the government will strictly comply with legal requirements," and added, "The specific timing, targets, and extent of the order will be determined based on the future movements of Cargo Solidarity."

Earlier that day, Minister Won also held an on-site situation meeting at the inland container depot (ICD) in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, a logistics hub in the metropolitan area, where he foreshadowed the order to commence transportation.

At the meeting, he said, "If the transportation refusal and obstruction continue, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will submit the order to commence transportation, which is an obligation and authority granted by the people, to the Cabinet meeting, and we want to clearly notify this in advance."

Minister Won presented a timetable, saying, "We have already started practical preparations to issue the order to commence transportation," and "As early as next Tuesday, we will hold a Cabinet meeting or an extraordinary Cabinet meeting to exercise the given obligation without hesitation."