Yoon: "Crackdown until construction site violence is completely eradicated... Will firmly establish the rule of law"

Yoon Receives Report on Violence at Construction Sites
Emphasizes Cooperation Among Prosecution, Police, Ministry of Land, and Employment
Urges Crackdown on Illegal Activities at Construction Sites in Cabinet Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 21st, President Yoon Seok-yeol instructed, "The prosecution, police, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of Employment and Labor must cooperate to strongly crack down on organized illegal activities such as extortion and violence at construction sites."

On the same day, President Yoon received a report on the current status and actual conditions of violence at construction sites at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the morning and said, "Crackdowns should not end temporarily," adding, "Strict crackdowns must be enforced until construction site violence is completely eradicated to firmly establish the rule of law at construction sites," Kim Eun-hye, the chief spokesperson, conveyed through a written briefing.

Attending the report held immediately after the Cabinet meeting were Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Commissioner of the National Police Agency Yoon Hee-geun, and Vice Minister of Employment and Labor Kwon Ki-seop.

In his opening remarks at the live-streamed Cabinet meeting that day, President Yoon emphasized, "If violence and illegality at construction sites are neglected even after being reported, it cannot be called a nation," and urged, "Public institutions and private associations should also participate in eradicating illegal activities."

In particular, President Yoon targeted strong vested-interest labor unions, stating, "They openly commit illegal acts such as demands for money, forced hiring, and obstruction of construction," and pointed out, "As a result, workers lose their jobs, construction becomes substandard, and damages such as delays in elementary school openings and new apartment move-ins are passed on to the public."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also mentioned union accounting issues again. President Yoon said, "The starting point of labor reform is strengthening the transparency of union accounting," criticizing, "Despite using more than 150 billion won in government subsidies funded by taxpayers over the past five years, unions have not submitted accounting books and are resisting systematically."

He continued, "In advanced countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, unions are required to report their accounts and submit documents," and noted, "In our country, a significant amount of tax deductions are given for union dues, effectively providing financial support for union operations. This is a separate issue from the 150 billion won in subsidies."

President Yoon ordered related ministries, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, to accelerate legislative labor reforms, stating, "Continuing financial support to unions that refuse accounting transparency will be difficult for taxpayers who bear the burden of public funds to accept."