BOGOTA (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Saturday urged an early resolution of a threatened truckers' strike back home, saying the collective action is not desirable at a time when the global economy shows signs of worsening amid the eurozone debt crisis.
Lee made the remark during a visit to Colombia after aides briefed him on domestic issues, his spokesman Park Jeong-ha said.
Unionized truck drivers across South Korea have vowed to walk out of their jobs Monday, demanding a 30 percent raise in trucking fees.
The planned strike "is not desirable at the current point when the global economic situation is worsening and hardship is expected for the domestic economy as well," Lee was quoted as saying. "I hope both sides will make concessions and reach an early resolution."
Lee also instructed the land and transportation ministry to take emergency measures to ensure the strike causes no disruptions in shipments of daily necessities and export goods, according to the spokesman.
Lee also instructed the Prime Minister's Office to take charge of tackling the prolonged drought gripping South Korea and to mobilize all possible equipment and personnel to minimize its damage, with priority on the agricultural sector, the spokesman said. (Yonhap)