Kumho Tire unionist attempts suicide

By Lee Kyung-min

A Kumho Tire union member is in critical condition after an apparent suicide attempt, the union said Thursday.

The 34-year-old man, surnamed Park, was found hanging by his neck on Thursday morning in a patients’ room in a hospital in Gawngju, where he had been treated for a head injury sustained during a Jan. 7 fight with another union member, surnamed Jung.

Park was transferred to another hospital after a nurse found him, but has yet to gain consciousness.

Park was one of seven union members leading wage negotiations with management. The negotiations have been temporarily suspended due to the incident, the union said.

It’s unknown at this time whether his suicide attempt had something to do with the negotiations.

Before the incident, Park left a short memo referring to the Jan. 7 fight saying, “I’m so upset. It’s unfair,” to his friend, who is also a union member.

According to the union, Park was upset about a complaint filed with police in Gwangju against him over the fight with Jung.