South Korea increases return-to-work orders for thousands of striking truck drivers

South Korea’s government has extended a return-to-work order for thousands of truck drivers who are on strike across the country over freight fares, saying a prolonged strike could inflict “deep scars” on the country’s economy.

Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho told a news conference that the “go to work” order for steel and fuel truck drivers was inevitable because if the strike expanded further, it could start to hurt major export industries such as automobiles and shipbuilding.

So far, the impact of the strike has been largely limited to domestic industries such as construction.

The orders, initially placed on Nov. 29 for about 2,500 cement truck drivers, have now expanded to about 6,000 for steel and 4,500 for fuel and chemicals.

Police also crack down on unionists who threaten or disrupt colleagues who choose to work.

While the impact of the strike has faded into its third week, container traffic at the country’s main ports has returned to pre-strike levels and cement supplies at construction sites have resumed, but orders are still expanding.

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative government has taken aggressive steps to mobilize nearly 200 military vehicles, including containers and fuel trucks, to ease delays in industrial shipments.

Strikers, represented by the Cargo Truckers Solidarity union, struck on Nov. 24 to demand the government make permanent the minimum freight system, which is due to expire at the end of 2022, which they say is crucial for safety and financial stability in lowering fuel costs.