The court has intervened in the protest by non-regular workers that has continued for over a year in front of the Hyundai Wia Changwon Plant in Gyeongnam.
The 21st Civil Division of the Changwon District Court, presided over by Senior Judge Jang Sooyoung, partially granted Hyundai Wia's request for an injunction to prohibit protests against the Hyundai Wia Changwon Non-regular Workers' Branch of the Metal Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on September 10.
The court ruled, "It is prohibited to install banners, placards, or flags with messages claiming that the company violated the Dispatch Act by receiving dispatched labor or that executives and employees are criminals, or to use sound amplification devices for speeches or slogans, or to play audio sources, within 100 meters of the main building of Hyundai Wia."
The court further stated, "It is also prohibited to install torn banners or cloth within 200 meters of the boundary stone of the main building, to generate noise exceeding 70dB during the day and 65dB at night, or to park vehicles on the access road to the main building entrance."
The court explained, "The freedom of assembly, protest, and expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and must be protected to the greatest extent possible. However, this freedom is not absolute and cannot infringe upon the honor, rights, public morals, or social ethics of others. If the protests continue, the company is likely to suffer irreparable damage."
The court ordered that if the Non-regular Workers' Branch violates these terms, it must pay Hyundai Wia 2 million won per violation.
However, the court dismissed Hyundai Wia's requests for preemptive prohibition based on alleged violations of personal rights, as well as for indirect compulsory enforcement that would require payment of a certain amount for any delay in carrying out the court's decision.
The court explained, "Based solely on the materials submitted by the company, the likelihood of violating the court's decision does not appear to be high."
The Metal Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Gyeongnam is holding a press conference to announce the start of a lawsuit against Hyundai Wia for illegal dispatch. Provided by the Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch
Previously, since January 2024, the Non-regular Workers' Branch has been holding rallies in front of the main gate of Hyundai Wia Changwon Plant 1, claiming illegal dispatch of non-regular workers by the company and demanding direct employment.
During this period, Hyundai Wia and the branch have clashed so intensely that there were even rumors about the company's headquarters relocating.
Ultimately, in April this year, Hyundai Wia filed an injunction with the Changwon District Court against the branch, seeking to prohibit protests on grounds including trespassing on private property, exceeding permitted noise levels for assemblies, obstructing traffic, property damage, and making denunciatory statements.
Regarding the ruling, Hyundai Wia stated, "Citizens, employees, and children at the daycare center have suffered greatly from excessive noise and protests that threatened safety, and we expect this issue to be resolved."
The company added, "We will do our best to become a company that grows together with the citizens of Changwon and creates a safer workplace."
The Non-regular Workers' Branch is reportedly reviewing the court's decision to determine its future response.
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