Gangbuk-gu Takes Forced Eviction Measures Against Illegal Occupation by Urban Management Corporation Union

Gangbuk-gu Requests Police Facility Protection and Union Members' Eviction Measures on the 27th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) requested police protection for its facilities on the 27th and took eviction measures against union members of the Gangbuk-gu Urban Management Corporation Labor Union, who had been illegally occupying and protesting in the district office building without permission for about a month.

The district stated that it will firmly respond in the future to the illegal acts of the corporation union, which had continued with the purpose of forcibly involving Mayor Lee Soon-hee of Gangbuk-gu, who has no negotiation authority, in negotiations by excluding the Urban Management Corporation (Chairman Shin Seung-dong), the counterpart in collective bargaining.

The corporation union illegally entered the Gangbuk-gu office building on November 29 and has since occupied parts of the 3rd floor where the mayor’s office is located, the 1st floor civil service office, and some staircases on the 2nd and 4th floors, verbally abusing and threatening district office employees with violence.

In addition, they brought in hazardous materials such as high-pressure gas cylinders, ate at the civil service document desks, slept in the hallways, caused disturbances using high-volume amplifiers, and committed illegal acts such as posting unauthorized wall posters and assembly ribbons.

On the 22nd, they attempted to confine and assault the chief of the secretariat working in the mayor’s office, and on the 23rd, they pushed the head of the Administrative Support Division requesting eviction orders against a wall, causing injury through pressure. Sporadic violence continued, and at around 10:50 a.m., they surrounded the mayor who was on official business outside the office, committing collective confinement and assault without hesitation.

As a result, Mayor Lee Soon-hee sustained injuries to her legs and shoulders and was hospitalized at a local hospital. Several secretariat staff who physically blocked the corporation union’s attacks also received medical treatment for various injuries.

The district has made every effort to create conditions to facilitate reconciliation between the corporation’s labor and management within the limits allowed by law and requested peaceful eviction five times, but the corporation union rejected all of these requests.

A district official said, “Due to the illegal acts of the corporation union, civil petitioners suffered severe discomfort and anxiety, and district office employees were unable to carry out normal work,” adding, “We will strictly hold them legally accountable for all illegal acts that have occurred so far.”

Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “I hope a smooth agreement between the corporation and the union will be reached soon so that residents do not experience inconvenience,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that no more civil petitioners or district office employees get hurt.”

Full Statement of Gangbuk-gu on the Normalization of Office Building Operations

As of today (December 27), Gangbuk-gu has requested police protection for its facilities and personal safety and has asked for the eviction of union members belonging to the Gangbuk-gu Urban Management Corporation Labor Union (hereinafter referred to as the corporation union), who are currently illegally occupying the Gangbuk-gu office building.

Since illegally entering the Gangbuk-gu office building on November 29, the corporation union has been illegally occupying the hallway in front of the mayor’s office on the 3rd floor, the civil service office on the 1st floor, and parts of the staircases on the 2nd and 4th floors for 29 days. During this time, they have verbally abused and threatened district office employees with violence, brought in hazardous materials such as high-pressure gas cylinders, eaten on the civil service document desks, slept in the hallways, caused disturbances using high-volume amplifiers, and committed illegal acts such as posting unauthorized wall posters and assembly ribbons. As a result, civil petitioners visiting the district office suffered severe discomfort and anxiety, and district office employees were unable to carry out normal work.

On December 22, they attempted to confine and assault the chief of the secretariat, and on the 23rd, they pushed the head of the Administrative Support Division against a wall and applied pressure causing injury. Sporadic violence continued, culminating in surrounding the mayor who was on official business outside the office and committing collective confinement and assault. Due to this, Mayor Lee Soon-hee sustained injuries to her legs and shoulders and was hospitalized at a local hospital. Several secretariat staff who physically blocked the corporation union’s attacks also received medical treatment for various injuries.

The corporation union’s actions contain an impure intention to forcibly involve the Gangbuk-gu mayor, who has no negotiation authority, in negotiations by excluding the Urban Management Corporation management side (Chairman) which is the counterpart in collective bargaining. Gangbuk-gu clarifies that it has made every effort to create conditions to support a smooth agreement between the corporation’s labor and management within the limits allowed by law. Furthermore, it requested peaceful eviction five times during this process, but the corporation union rejected all requests.

We ask that you do not be misled by the corporation union’s unilateral and distorted claims. Gangbuk-gu will no longer tolerate the corporation union’s selfish and violent behavior and will strictly hold them legally accountable for all illegal acts that have occurred so far. We will not tolerate any illegal acts that use residents’ safety and convenience as hostages and will respond firmly to ensure that there is no inconvenience to citizens using the district office and local facilities and that Gangbuk-gu district office employees are no longer injured. Thank you.