Ministry of Employment Holds ‘Major Institution Heads Situation Review Meeting’
Minister of Employment and Labor, Kim Moon-soo, issued a stern warning regarding the labor unions’ planned strike next month, stating, “We will respond strictly to illegal activities under the principle of zero tolerance, regardless of whether they are initiated by labor or management.”
The image accompanying the article shows Minister Kim speaking at the emergency major institution heads situation review meeting held on the 28th at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu, Seoul. He emphasized that the joint strike announced by the Public Transport Union, which holds the economy and daily life hostage, will not resonate with the public. Starting from the 5th of next month, the Korean Railway Workers’ Union, which operates KTX, regular trains, and metropolitan subways, will begin an indefinite strike. On the 6th, the Seoul Transportation Corporation Union (subway lines 1-8), Seoul Metro Line 9 Branch, and the Education Public Union are also scheduled to strike.
Minister Kim stressed, “No matter how much the union claims it is exercising its legitimate rights, actions that cause inconvenience and anxiety to the public can never be justified,” urging the union to cancel the strike and engage in dialogue to resolve issues responsibly. He also promised to support minimizing public inconvenience. “We will persuade labor and management to resolve issues through dialogue and compromise until the last moment, in cooperation with relevant agencies like the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Education, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government,” he said, adding, “Even if a strike occurs, we will promptly devise and implement emergency measures to minimize public inconvenience.”