The Government Nipped KGEU’s Plan for a General Strike

The Korean Government Employees’ Union (KGEU)’s vote on whether or not to go on a general strike scheduled to start on November 15 was forestalled by government forces in most branches yesterday.

The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs announced that among 207 branches of the union, 37 branches’ voting were preempted by the police or local authorities, and 51 branches either gave up or voluntarily suspended the voting.

The police announced that it searched 47 branches of the KGEU for confiscation and arrested 186 union members who either interrupted the operation or participated in the vote. They are under questioning now.

Meanwhile, the KGEU said, “We will continue the voting as scheduled. Even if the voting is disrupted by government forces, we will go on the strike which is scheduled for November 15.”

Hyun-Doo Lee ruchi@donga.com needjung@donga.com