By Kang Hyun-kyung
A group of Ssangyong Motor workers said they will continue a sit-in protest centered in a tent at Deoksu Palace, in defiance of an ultimatum issued by Jung-gu District Office to leave the premises today.
The local office issued a warning saying officals will forcefully remove the tent and other make-shift facilities set up last April if they are not voluntarily removed by Friday.
However, Kim Jeong-uk, a former Ssangyong Motor worker who has led the protest for nearly 330 days, said they will continue to fight. The 43-year-old and other laid-off workers are demanding the management to reinstate 2,600 workers laid off in 2009.
Since last April, Kim has slept in the tent and washed at a bathroom in Seoul City Hall building located across from Deoksugung. He eats his meals in restaurants nearby.
“I and my fellow protestors have talked with district officials. Both sides share the need to resolve the pending problem through dialogue,” said Kim. “But the talks have not gone very well as both sides are sticking to their positions.”
Kim, who worked with Ssangyong as an assembly line employee for 16 years until 2009 when he was laid off, said their sit-in is not illegal.
“Our protests are legal because we are abiding by the law. We notified the government authorities of our rallies in advance and received a permit. So we have no problem at all,” he said.
The district office, however, said the make-shift facilities on the road are illegal because they hinder passers-by.
Kim said he will not sit back if and when the district office attempts to remove the facilities, vowing to fight to the end until the protestor’s demand is met.
Some 30 dismissed Ssangyong workers joined the sit-in last year. Now, only five or six, including Kim, are holed up in the tent.
“So far 24 workers and their family members lost their lives after the massive layoff in 2009. Of these, 13 committed suicide, while the rest died of diseases or in agony,” Kim said.
He said the district office put a number of big flower pots right beside the tent in place of two other tents which were burnt down by a fire set up by a homeless man on Feb. 3.