Police Investigate 15 Union Members for Illegal Acts During Hwamyul Solidarity Strike

On the 29th, when the government issued a work commencement order against the general strike by the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, members of the Cargo Solidarity Seoul-Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters held a rally at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province, shouting slogans condemning the order.
Uiwang - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The police are investigating 15 union members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) National Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity Headquarters (Cargo Solidarity) on charges of obstructing logistics transportation through assault and other acts during the strike.

As of 3 p.m. on the 29th, the National Police Agency announced that it is investigating nine cases involving 15 Cargo Solidarity union members nationwide, including Busan and Gyeonggi. Among them is Mr. A, who is accused of throwing a lighter at the windshield of a non-union member's vehicle on the roadside in front of the Seonwon Hall at Busan New Port around 10:45 a.m. that day. Mr. B and Mr. C, who are accused of assaulting police officers by throwing water bottles at them during the process of arresting Mr. A on the spot, were also booked.

Earlier, on the 25th, the police booked union member Mr. D on charges of verbally abusing and throwing water bottles at a non-union member and assaulting them at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, and are investigating. On the same day, Mr. E was booked on charges of throwing raw eggs at a non-union member who was driving a container truck on a road in Changwon, Gyeongnam.

The police deployed 380 traffic officers and 498 vehicles including patrol cars and tow trucks to ensure that cargo trucks transporting major import and export goods can operate safely. In major logistics hub areas, 63 companies from 41 police stations nationwide have been mobilized to monitor illegal acts by Cargo Solidarity such as obstructing non-union member vehicle transportation, lane occupation, assaulting drivers, and vehicle damage. A total of 1,559 officers have been deployed to investigate the illegal activities of union members.