Korail Unionists Face Arrest

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Prosecutors will interrogate 187 Korail union leaders, including five former employees, for disrupting train services.

If they refuse to report for questioning after a third summons this week, they will face arrest, a Seoul prosecutor said Monday.

Korail will also file a compensation suit against the union for losses caused by the strike.

The tough action was taken after passenger and cargo train services were significantly reduced.

Korail said the strike had caused 4.7 billion won in losses up to Sunday.

The Saemaeul service operations rate was down to 59.5 percent and the Mugunghwa to 62.7 percent. The expensive KTX service is operating at full capacity.

Fewer trains running between Seoul and metropolitan areas have also angered commuters. "It was more crowded and my trip took 25 minutes longer than usual. I call on the union to end the strike now," a frustrated commuter said.

Korail has prioritized cargo operations so as to minimize disruptions to freight transportation but, a prolonged strike is set to make the situation worse.

Korail President Huh Joon-young vowed not to compromise with the unionists. The government apparently sees the strike as a precursor to a nationwide strike planned by other unions, expected in the middle of December.

The union workers counter-sued Huh for suppressing their activities.

Baek Nam-hee, a spokesman for the Korea Railway Workers' Union, claimed that it was not the union but management that was responsible.

Bae said the union's request for negotiations on Korail's rationalization plan was rejected over the weekend.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

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