'Cargo Solidarity Strike Day 12' Prime Minister Han Inspects Petroleum Product Shipment Site

The scene at the Dunchon Jugong Apartment reconstruction site in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, where ready-mix concrete pouring has been halted due to disruptions in the supply of construction materials amid the Cargo Solidarity Union's general strike entering its seventh day on the 30th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Prime Minister Han Deok-soo visited the Seoul Northern Oil Storage Facility of Korea Oil Pipeline Corporation on the 5th to inspect the shipment site of petroleum products related to the Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal.

The Seoul Northern Oil Storage Facility was completed in 1992 and is equipped with 12 storage tanks, with a total storage capacity of 420,000 barrels. It is a key facility supplying petroleum products for transportation in the northern metropolitan area.

The fact that Prime Minister Han immediately inspected petroleum product shipment sites nationwide upon returning from his tour of France and Africa reflects the severity of the situation, as the Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal has entered its 12th day, causing shipment disruptions worth 3 trillion won in major industries such as cement and steel.

Since the 28th of last month, the government has raised the land cargo transport alert level from caution to severe and formed the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to implement emergency transport measures through close cooperation between the central government and local governments.

As damages have increased, including construction halts due to ready-mix concrete supply disruptions at some construction sites, the government has issued a work commencement order primarily in the cement sector. Starting today, the government plans to verify compliance with the order and impose strong administrative sanctions on non-compliant transport operators and workers.

One of the government's strong response measures announced the previous day includes restricting fuel subsidies for truck owners refusing transport for one year and excluding them from highway toll discounts for one year. However, amending the Truck Transportation Business Act is necessary to cut off fuel subsidies, and it is uncertain whether this will pass through the National Assembly.

The government also decided that if truck owners who have returned to normal work are subjected to text or phone threats or obstruction of access roads, their cargo transport qualifications will be revoked, and re-acquisition of qualifications will be restricted for two years. All transport workers who fail to comply with the work commencement order and those who instigate or assist violations of the order will face legal prosecution.

In addition to cement, damages are increasing due to shipment disruptions in the refining, steel, and petrochemical sectors. The government has completed preparations to issue work commencement orders for refining and steel sectors and plans to initiate immediate issuance procedures if necessary.