South Korean railway workers strike nationwide

South Korean railway workers began a four-day strike on September 14, the first such strike in four years and threatening to cut rail capacity by up to 60 percent.

A day earlier, South Korean Labor and Employment Minister Lee Jeong-sik called on unionized railway workers to cancel plans for a general strike because it would seriously affect the economy and people's daily activities.

The Korean Railway Workers Union has launched a nationwide strike from 9 a.m. on September 14, demanding better working conditions and the extension of KTX high-speed train service to a station south of the capital Seoul.

The collective action is aimed at pressuring the government to negotiate allowing KTX trains operated by KORAIL to access Suseo Station, the starting point of another high-speed train service called the Super Rapid Train (SRT).

Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), the national rail network operator, also announced earlier plans to reduce operations of passenger trains, including high-speed KTX services, and freight trains by 20-60 percent following the strike.

The KTX and SRT, operated by SR Corp., start at Seoul Station and Suseo Station respectively and use different routes to Pyeongtaek on their way to the southern Korean cities of Busan and Mokpo.

The Railway Union Alliance believes that integrating KTX and SRT services will help address seat shortages and fare costs, raising suspicions that current route-sharing operations show signs of preferential treatment for SR Corp.

The move could also be a step towards railway privatization.

The union is also demanding better working conditions, such as full implementation of the four-team, two-shift system the company has agreed to adopt to ensure rail workers do not work night shifts two days in a row.

Korall Group plans to mobilize replacement workers to ensure KTX and other train services operate at 70 percent of normal capacity during morning and evening rush hours to minimize inconvenience to the public.