South Korea: Government Alarmed by Ongoing Railway Strike Amid Rising Political Tensions
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Seoul, Dec 6 (NationPress) The government on Friday raised alarms about a potential prolonged general strike by unionized workers of the national railway operator, fueled by political turmoil linked to a recent martial law declaration.
The walkout by workers of the Korea Railroad Corp., the first since September 2023, has disrupted the operations of high-speed KTX trains and regular train services nationwide since Thursday, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Yoon Jin-hwan, director-general of the transport ministry's railway bureau, stated that it is difficult to predict when the railway strike will conclude due to the increasing uncertainty surrounding national politics.
He mentioned that rail operations could be sustained at 70 percent of normal capacity for up to two to three weeks. However, if the strike persists beyond a month, operational capacity is anticipated to decline further.
Yoon voiced concerns that the fatigue among non-striking workers could jeopardize safety in rail operations.
Market analysts also indicate that the strike may prolong due to the escalating political tensions regarding the martial law situation.
During strike demonstrations held nationwide, slogans demanding the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol were prominently displayed, suggesting that the strike's objectives may have evolved beyond traditional labor issues.
