Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korail to deploy replacement workers if strike occurs ... “Will secure a 75% operating rate”

[Financial News] The Korean Railway Workers’ Union (KRWU) has announced an all-out strike starting at 9 a.m. on the 10th of next month, demanding improvements to the promotion system for frontline workers and additional safety staff, among other things. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) say they will respond by deploying additional train drivers, but concerns are growing over a potential paralysis of logistics and transportation.
KRWU held a press conference announcing an all-out strike at Seoul Station in Jung District on the morning of the 11th, calling for improvements to the unfair promotion system and increased safety staffing at worksites, among other things. It plans to launch an indefinite general strike at 9 a.m. on December 10 if its demands are not met.
There are concerns that if the strike goes ahead, its impact will be greater than that of previous strikes. This would be the first railway union strike since Korail and SR Corporation merged on September 1. Previously, even when the Korail union went on strike, SR, a separate corporation, kept SRT services running normally and played a minimal role in providing alternative transport. But now that high-speed rail operations have been unified, both lines will be affected by the strike at the same time, likely causing major disruption for year-end rail passengers and freight transport.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korail plan to minimize disruption at worksites by deploying around 80 replacement workers even if a strike occurs. A ministry official said, “We are identifying the personnel who could be deployed if the situation arises.” A Korail official also said, “We will use replacement personnel from the integrated divisions, among other resources,” adding, “We plan to secure an operating rate of 75.2%, higher than the 66.8% operating rate for high-speed rail during the 2024 strike (based on KTX).”
Efforts to narrow the differences between labor and management will also continue. A ministry official said, “We are currently working to ensure that the differences can be resolved smoothly before a strike ultimately takes place,” while a Korail official emphasized, “We will do our utmost to narrow the differences between labor and management.”
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter