Presidential Office: "No Change in Position on Early Return and Subsequent Transformation"

"No Preconditions for Return Allowed"... Yoon Approves Additional Work Resumption Order on the Morning of the 8th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Presidential Office stated on the 8th that its position on the Cargo Solidarity general strike remains unchanged as "return first, negotiate later." It emphasized that there can be no preconditions for returning and that it will uphold a consistent principle. On the morning of the same day, President Yoon Seok-yeol approved an additional issuance of the work commencement order, nine days after the government’s first-ever order.

A Presidential Office official told reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, "We have announced a consistent principle of 'return first, negotiate later,'" adding, "There can be no preconditions for returning." The official further explained, "Once they return, the dialogue table can be opened anytime," and emphasized, "This is not a hardline stance."

President Yoon immediately approved the additional work commencement order for the steel and petrochemical sectors after it was passed at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo that morning. A Presidential Office official explained, "After the first (work commencement order), those refusing transport returned to work, and the momentum of the strike seemed to weaken, but the Presidential Office and government judged that damage in these sectors (steel and petrochemical) continues to be reported and there are concerning points."

The final decision by President Yoon on the additional work commencement order came nine days after the first order was issued in the cement sector on the 29th of last month. It is known that during the past nine days, President Yoon received reports on the strike situation and industrial damage during external schedules and personally reviewed countermeasures. The Presidential Office explained that the president was particularly concerned about the ongoing damage to the public caused by the steel and petrochemical industries. The refining sector, which was considered as a target for the additional order, was excluded this time. One of the issues President Yoon personally monitored was that the number of gas stations running out of gasoline has slightly decreased in recent days, indicating that the situation is not worsening further.

Regarding the Democratic Party of Korea’s announcement on the same day that it accepts the ruling party’s proposal to extend the sunset clause of the Safe Freight Rate system by three years, a ruling party official pointed out, "It was the Cargo Solidarity that rejected the three-year extension of the Safe Freight Rate system." The official explained that the government’s proposal to extend the Safe Freight Rate system, which is set to expire at the end of this year, by three years was made to prevent the Cargo Solidarity from engaging in collective transport refusal. The official criticized, "The national economy has suffered enormous damage that cannot be measured in monetary terms," and added, "Whether it is Cargo Solidarity or the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, they should first make a statement regarding the massive damage."

Meanwhile, the Presidential Office stated that it will maintain a consistent stance toward the steel and petrochemical sectors, where the additional order was issued. It intends to urge a return to work while judging illegal acts and the treatment of general returnees according to law and principles.