Author Name: Tiffany Lee – Marketing Analyst at FreightAmigo｜14/6/2022
South Korean truck drivers went on strike for seven days, and conversations between the union and the government have failed to come to an agreement. Days of the strike at ports and container depots across the country have disrupted South Korea’s supply chain and logistics services.
On 7th June, thousands of truck drivers in South Korea went on strike at major ports and container depots throughout the country. Truck drivers are protesting against soaring fuel prices and demanding the government to extend the minimum pay guarantees which protect truckers’ basic salary is set to expire this December. However, despite four meetings between the trade union and the government, no agreement has been reached. Truck drivers in South Korea are self-employed. They are concerned about the higher fuel prices and the repeal of the minimum pay guarantees will diminish their earnings and destroy their livelihoods.
According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the truck drivers’ union staged protests in 16 locations across South Korea. They hindered transport vehicles from entering and leaving factories and ports, resulting in a 33% drop in container shipping at Busan, the world’s seventh-largest port. The strike also halted transportation at Pyeongtaek port and Uiwang container depot in Gyeonggi Province, disrupting the transfer of vehicles, steel, cement, chips, and petrochemicals. This increased the burden on Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
According to the South Korea Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the general strike halted container shipping at 12 ports around the country, resulting in a 64% drop in daily container throughput compared to last year of May. Container throughput at the Port of Incheon has reduced to 20% of average. Container shipping at Ulsan Port has been fully halted since 7th June.
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