Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
POSCO employees angry at radical civic group in Pohang
Members of a civic group wearing Joseon Kingdom policemen uniforms pretend to flog another member dressed in a blue POSCO uniform, during a rally in front of the steelmaker's headquarters in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Courtesy of POSCO union
By Park Jae-hyuk
By Park Jae-hyuk
The recent rally of a Pohang residents' civic group calling for the resignation of POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo is drawing severe backlash from company subcontractors, employees and residents living in the steelmaker's hometown in North Gyeongsang Province, according to industry officials, Tuesday.
During the rally held in front of the POSCO headquarters in Pohang last Thursday, the civic group's members cut the nose off a scarecrow with a sword and pretended that they were flogging a person wearing the steelmaker's blue uniform.
In response, representatives of the employees of POSCO Future M, the group's chemical unit, expressed concerns on Monday about the civic group's radical rally damaging the reputation of Pohang and POSCO.
“Amid POSCO Future M's preparation for the second miracle in Yeongil Bay through the rechargeable battery materials business, the civic group's unreasonable behaviors restrain the company's operations and make the company less attractive to global investors,” the representatives said in a statement.
Unionized workers of POSCO also issued a statement last Friday, pointing out the irrationality of the civic group's conduct.
“They humiliated our members, who are also residents of Pohang,” said the POSCO union under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.
The steelmaker's joint labor-management council also criticized the civic group last Thursday for showing disrespect for the workers.
“It is doubtful whether the civic group's rally is intended for the development of Pohang,” the council said.
Members of a civic group hold a press conference at Pohang City Hall last Monday to announce their plan to hold a rally calling for the resignation of POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo. Yonhap
Before the rally, subcontractors of POSCO's main steel mill in Pohang asked the civic group to drop its plan, regarding the rally as an activity damaging the reputation of the city and causing conflict among residents.
Pohang Chamber of Commerce & Industry emphasized that this is the very moment for the residents to join forces so that the city can be selected by the government as the region to accommodate an industrial complex specializing in the rechargeable battery business.
The junior chambers of Pohang, Guryongpo and North Pohang also supported POSCO.
“As a result of efforts of Pohang's residents and politicians, POSCO Holdings finished relocating its headquarters and research institute to our city,” the junior chambers said. “It is regrettable that a single civic group is causing a conflict by claiming that the remaining POSCO Holdings employees in Seoul should move to Pohang.”
Despite the opposition, the civic group was able to hold the rally as planned, because the court had rejected POSCO's request to ban the rally.