Thousands of Korean truck drivers are on strike for the third day, affecting the supply chain

The work of the truck driver The strike has disrupted production, impacted operations at ports and posed new risks to already strained global supply chains.

About 7,200 truck drivers, or 30 percent of the members of the country’s Freight Trucking Union, went on strike as South Korean President Yoon Seok-youl took office, the Ministry of Transport said. one month. The strike is considered one of the first major economic challenges he faced.

A union official said, the number drivers strike will continue to increase, including non-union truckers.

Kim Jae-kwang, a senior union official said: “Do fuel prices increase boom and the Government did not take strong enough action to protect our livelihoods, so our frustrations are growing.”

Mr. Kim Jae-kwang said that many truck drivers are about to leave their businesses: “Large cargo truck drivers have to pay an additional 3 million won in fuel costs, while their monthly salary is only about 3 million won. up to 4 million Won.”

Thousands of truck drivers in South Korea went on strike for a third day on June 9, disrupting shipments from ports and container depots. (Image: Getty)

South Korean steel producer POSCO said it has been unable to transport about 35,000 tons of steel products from its two mills a day since the strike began, equivalent to about a third of the batch. goods come out every day from the factory.

A South Korean auto industry group said the strike would put more pressure on the auto industry, which has been hit by a global chip shortage.

Yonhap news agency reported that Hyundai Motor had interrupted production at factories in Ulsan because truck drivers refused to deliver parts. Hyundai Motor declined to comment on the matter.

An official from the Korea Freight Forwarding Council said that the impact of the strike has been felt at ports: “There is only a minimal amount of cargo entering the ports. Until yesterday (June 8) ), the situation seems to have been fine because some of the pre-arranged goods have already been shipped, but the reality is that it is very difficult now”.

South Korean police arrested more than 20 people participating in the strike, including members of the Truckers Association who blocked the gate of the Hite Jinro brewery in Icheon, southeast of Seoul, Yonhap reported.

President Yoon Seok-youl warned strike participants not to use violence and said that the Korean government is trying to resolve the situation through dialogue.

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