South Korea Activates Emergency Task Force as Nationwide Rail Strike Looms

South Korea's government is launching an emergency transport task force this week to counter a planned strike by KORAIL rail workers over pay and working conditions.

South Korea's government plans to activate an emergency transport task force this week to preempt widespread disruption from a planned strike by unionized workers at the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), officials confirmed on Monday, December 22.

The task force, headed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, will operate around the clock starting Tuesday and will remain active until the strike ends. The move highlights the government's concern over the potential impact on the nation's logistics and transportation networks during the busy year-end season.

The KORAIL labor union has vowed to stage the strike to demand better working conditions. A central issue is their call for performance-based bonuses to be calculated at 100 percent of base pay, a significant increase from the current 80 percent.

The comprehensive task force involves coordination between multiple agencies. It includes the Korea Airport Corp. and the Korea Express Bus Transportation Association, as well as the metropolitan governments of Seoul, Incheon, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.

Contingency Plan in PlaceShould the strike commence, authorities have a clear response plan. According to officials, they will deploy all available substitute personnel to maintain train operations on major routes. Concurrently, they will expand alternative transportation options, such as increasing the frequency of express buses and domestic flights, to mitigate the impact on the public.

The planned industrial action threatens to disrupt travel for millions in one of Asia's most connected economies. The effectiveness of the government's emergency measures will be a critical test of its ability to manage labor disputes without causing significant economic and social disturbance.

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