On the 27th, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, visited Uiwang ICD, the largest container logistics base in the metropolitan area, to inspect the collective transportation refusal situation by the Cargo Solidarity and encourage the police riot squad members on duty. Photo by National Police Agency
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, reiterated his stance to strictly respond to illegal acts that obstruct logistics transportation by non-union members in relation to the general strike by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ National Public Transport Workers’ Union Cargo Solidarity Headquarters (Cargo Solidarity).
On the 27th at 11 a.m., Commissioner Yoon visited the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do to inspect the Cargo Solidarity’s collective refusal to transport and encouraged the police riot squad members on duty. After the on-site inspection, Commissioner Yoon stated, "We will strictly respond with on-site arrests as a principle against illegal acts such as obstructing transportation by non-union members or blocking the entrances of logistics bases. In particular, we will relentlessly track down the core ringleaders, extreme agitators, and their backers without exception and take judicial action."
Earlier, on the afternoon of the 23rd, one day before the Cargo Solidarity general strike, Commissioner Yoon also stated at the nationwide meeting of provincial police chiefs, "Cargo Solidarity is threatening to enforce a collective refusal to transport that could cause irreparable damage to the national economy. We plan to respond strictly without any tolerance to illegal acts that exceed legal limits under the command responsibility of each provincial police chief, in accordance with law and principles."
The police have deployed forces to major logistics hubs affected by the strike to monitor whether Cargo Solidarity is engaging in illegal acts such as obstructing transportation of non-union vehicles, occupying lanes, assaulting drivers, and damaging vehicles near major workplaces and intersections. A total of 34 platoons from 26 police stations nationwide have been deployed, and as of this morning, 8 people have been booked for 7 cases related to the collective refusal to transport and are under investigation. Additionally, 431 traffic police officers and 304 pieces of equipment have been deployed to not only take judicial action against illegal acts involving vehicles but also to consider administrative measures such as suspension or cancellation of driver’s licenses.
Cargo Solidarity demands ▲ permanent implementation of the Safe Freight Rate System ▲ expansion of applicable vehicle types and items to five categories: steel products, automobiles, hazardous materials, feed/grains, and parcel delivery trunk and feeder lines ▲ and the government and ruling party’s withdrawal of the Safe Freight Rate System revision bill. However, the government maintains its position that it cannot accept the abolition of the sunset clause or the expansion of items.
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