The nationwide strike of workers at South Korean state factories expanded today, with tens of thousands of employees at the country's two major automobile manufacturing plants also not reporting to work. Since yesterday, thousands of workers from the state electricity and railway industries have gone on strike in protest against long weekly working hours and the government's plan to privatize state industries. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung warned today in remarks to his cabinet that he would take severe actions against the strikers; however, he expressed hope that labor unrest could be resolved through dialogue. This statement from the South Korean president came as employees at the two major automobile manufacturing plants, Hyundai and Kia, also went on strike in solidarity with workers in the electricity and railway industries, who are deprived of the right to strike under national laws.
Nationwide Strike of South Korean State Workers - 2002-02-26
A nationwide strike by South Korean state workers has escalated, involving tens of thousands from major automobile factories in solidarity with strikers from the electricity and railway sectors. The protests are against long working hours and government plans for privatization. President Kim Dae-jung has warned of severe actions but hopes for a resolution through dialogue.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A nationwide strike by South Korean state workers expanded to include tens of thousands from major automobile factories. Workers are protesting against long working hours and government plans for privatization.
- The strike began with workers from the electricity and railway sectors.
- President Kim Dae-jung warned of severe actions against the strikers but expressed hope for dialogue.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
South Korea has a history of labor movements advocating for workers' rights, particularly in response to government privatization efforts. This strike reflects broader global trends in labor activism.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%