Choo Kyung-ho: "All Transport Return Refusers, Teachers, and Accomplices to be Prosecuted" (Update)

Cancellation of Qualification and 2-Year Reacquisition Restriction for Drivers Who Assault or Threaten Non-Participants and Returnees of Collective Transport Refusal
One-Year Suspension of Fuel Subsidy and Exclusion from Highway Toll Discounts for Drivers Refusing Transport

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporters Kim Hyewon and Bae Kyunghwan] The government has decided to take legal action against all individuals who refuse to return to transportation and those who instigate or aid violations of work commencement orders related to the Cargo Solidarity collective transportation refusal incident. Additionally, it plans to amend laws to impose strong follow-up measures such as revoking qualifications and restricting fuel subsidy payments. The government has also completed preparations to issue work commencement orders for industries affected by transportation disruptions, such as refining and steel, and in response to the collective transportation refusal, it will expand the scope of private vehicle paid transportation permits to include general cargo trucks, tank trucks, as well as grain and feed transport vehicles, while exempting highway tolls.

On the 4th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho stated at a briefing on measures against the Cargo Solidarity collective transportation refusal, "We will take legal action against all those who refuse to return to transportation as well as those who instigate or aid violations of work commencement orders," adding, "We will mobilize all available police forces nationwide, including police units, traffic, criminal, and intelligence divisions, to establish a 24-hour full-scale response system to block illegal activities."

Deputy Prime Minister Choo said, "We will hold Cargo Solidarity accountable to the end through on-site investigations regarding unfair joint actions under the Fair Trade Act and prohibited acts by business associations," and added, "We strongly regret the obstruction of the Fair Trade Commission’s on-site investigation and plan to jointly respond with the police to reinitiate the investigation." He urged, "Cargo Solidarity should immediately comply with the on-site investigation," and added, "We will continue to investigate violations of the Fair Trade Act even after the collective transportation refusal ends."

Deputy Prime Minister Choo emphasized, "We will strictly enforce legal measures such as arresting on-the-spot offenders for assault, threats against non-participants and cargo owners, and damage to cargo vehicles," and stressed, "There have been numerous cases of retaliation threats against those who did not participate in the transportation refusal or who returned to work early, but the state will definitely protect them." To strictly punish the announcement and execution of retaliatory crimes, the government plans to establish a dedicated police investigation team with a rapid response system and designate police station investigation team leaders as victim protection officers to ensure victim safety. Deputy Prime Minister Choo said, "We will establish a joint response system with the police and local governments to crack down on illegal activities and impose strong administrative sanctions on transport workers who fail to comply with work commencement orders."

The government has completed all preparations to issue work commencement orders for industries such as refining and steel that have experienced transportation disruptions. Deputy Prime Minister Choo explained, "We will immediately initiate the procedure to issue work commencement orders if there are concerns about a national economic crisis through meticulous monitoring." To prevent serious logistics disruptions, the scope of private vehicle paid transportation permits will be expanded to include general cargo trucks (8 tons or more), tank trucks, as well as grain and feed transport vehicles, and highway tolls will be exempted. The government will also deploy additional military vehicles, including up to 50 heavy equipment transport vehicles, to respond to urgent transportation demands and will promote the expansion of newly commissioned military container vehicles.

Furthermore, the government plans to amend relevant laws to allow for the cancellation of qualifications for those who obstruct transportation, such as by threatening or harassing drivers who are transporting normally via text messages or phone calls, or by blocking access roads, and will restrict re-acquisition of qualifications within two years after cancellation. For drivers who refuse transportation, fuel subsidy payments will be restricted for one year, and they will be excluded from highway toll discounts for one year as part of a strong response. Deputy Prime Minister Choo stated, "To prepare for the recurrence of collective transportation refusal situations, we will prioritize granting new supply permits for company-operated vehicles of transport companies and consider improving the logistics system by expanding transport shifts through the promotion of rail logistics."