"3년 만에 인정"… 일진하이솔루스 공격적 직장폐쇄 위법 확인, 사측은 체불임금 지급 거부

"Recognition after 3 years" ... Aggressive workplace closure confirmed as illegal by Iljin Hysolus, company refuses to pay overdue wages

The Jeonju Regional Labor Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor officially recognized that the closure of Iljin Highsolus in 2023 was an aggressive illegal closure, but the company is refusing to pay the unpaid wages. The Jeonbuk branch of the National Metal Workers' Union (Director Cha Deok-hyun) held a press conference in front of the Jeonju Regional Labor Office on April 29, demanding the immediate payment of 330 million won in unpaid wages to 77 union members and the withdrawal of criminal charges.

'Illegal' ruling after 3 years of struggle
On Labor Day, May 1, 2023, Iljin Highsolus abruptly carried out an aggressive closure against the Metal Workers' Union Iljin Highsolus Branch, which was in dispute over a collective agreement negotiation. A one-day partial strike and a two-week lawful struggle ensued. Due to the sudden closure, workers were left unpaid for a month and a half, and during the illegal replacement worker blockade, including the arrest and criminal prosecution of 11 people, including the Jeonbuk branch director, legal damages were incurred.

The union filed a complaint of unfair labor practices with the Ministry of Labor immediately after the closure, but after 21 months, in February 2025, the Ministry of Labor issued an administrative closure decision citing it as a "defensive closure." The union immediately refiled for review and strengthened the evidence, including the inventory levels at the time of closure, reduction in customer orders, and testimonies of subcontracted workers illegally deployed as replacement workers. As a result, on April 17, 2026, the Jeonju Regional Labor Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor issued an order to suspend the payment of suspension wages during the closure period to Iljin Highsolus and issued confirmation of unpaid wage claims to the affected workers.

"Rule of law"… Disregard for the suspension order
The issue lies with the company's attitude. Despite the Ministry of Labor's suspension order and the illegal ruling, Iljin Highsolus notified the branch on April 24 that they would refuse to comply with the Ministry of Labor's suspension order. Yoo Hyu-chang, the chairman of Iljin Highsolus, stated, "The 330 million won that 77 union members should receive may be just a number to the capital, but it is the tuition for children, accumulated loan interest, and the last stronghold to rebuild their collapsed lives for the workers." The union stated that if the company persists, they will use all means, including civil lawsuits.

"First case in the Iljin Group"… Significance of precedent
This ruling is the first case of a judgment that aggressive closures by Iljin Group affiliates are not justified and the first case to receive a suspension order. The union analyzed that the company's failure to comply with even the suspension order is to prevent this precedent. The press release evaluated that this ruling put a brake on the over 20-year-old script of destroying the metal union, which goes from "establishing a union → inducing disputes → closure."

Demand for withdrawal of criminal charges
At the press conference, in addition to the demand for payment of unpaid wages, there was also a demand for the withdrawal of criminal charges. At that time, many union members were criminally charged for offenses such as △special residential intrusion (including 6 senior officials of the branch) △obstruction of business (including 6 senior officials of the branch) △violation of laws regarding assembly and demonstrations (including 11 branch officials). The press conference was addressed by Cha Deok-hyun, Director of the Metal Workers' Union Jeonbuk Branch, Park Young-min, a labor attorney, and Lee Min-kyung, the former head of the Jeonbuk branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

📝 Brief Summary:
The Jeonju Regional Labor Office recognized the closure of Iljin Highsolus in 2023 as aggressive and illegal, but the company refuses to pay the unpaid wages. The National Metal Workers' Union is demanding immediate payment and the withdrawal of criminal charges.

🗣️ Natural Korean Translation:
전주지방고용노동부는 2023년 일진하이솔루스의 폐쇄를 강제로 인정했지만, 회사는 미지급 임금을 지급하지 않겠다고 거부하고 있습니다. 전북지역 금속노동조합(차덕현 이사장)은 4월 29일 전주지방고용노동부 앞에서 기자회견을 열어 77명의 조합원에게 미지급된 3억 3천만원을 즉각 지급하고 형사고발을 철회할 것을 요구했습니다.

❓ Comprehension Questions:
1. What did the Jeonju Regional Labor Office officially recognize about the closure of Iljin Highsolus in 2023?
일진하이솔루스의 2023년 폐쇄에 대해 전주지방고용노동부가 공식으로 인정한 것은 무엇인가요?
2. Why is the National Metal Workers' Union demanding immediate payment and the withdrawal of criminal charges?
전국금속노동조합이 즉각 지급과 형사고발 철회를 요구하는 이유는 무엇인가요?
3. What was the attitude of Iljin Highsolus towards the Ministry of Labor's suspension order and illegal ruling?
일진하이솔루스가 고용노동부의 중지 명령과 불법 판결에 대해 어떤 태도를 보였나요?

💡 Vocabulary Learning:
1. closure / 폐쇄 / noun
- The act of shutting down or ending operations.
- 폐쇄는 운영을 중단하거나 종료하는 행위입니다.
- The closure of the factory resulted in many job losses.
- 공장의 폐쇄로 많은 직장이 사라졌다.

2. aggressive / 강제적인 / adjective
- Characterized by forceful and pushy behavior.
- 강력하고 강압적인 행동으로 특징 지어진다.
- The aggressive marketing campaign led to a significant increase in sales.
- 강력한 마케팅 캠페인으로 매출이 크게 증가했다.

3. compliance / 준수 / noun
- The act of obeying rules, laws, or requests.
- 규칙, 법 또는 요청을 따르는 행위입니다.
- Full compliance with safety regulations is required in the workplace.
- 직장에서는 안전 규정을 완전히 준수해야 합니다.

4. withdrawal / 철회 / noun
- The act of pulling back or removing something.
- 물러나거나 제거하는 행위입니다.
- The withdrawal of troops from the area led to a temporary peace.
- 그 지역에서의 군대 철수로 일시적인 평화가 이루어졌다.

5. precedent / 선례 / noun
- An earlier event or action that can be used as an example or guide for future decisions.
- 미래 결정을 위한 예시나 가이드로 사용할 수 있는 이전 사건이나 행동입니다.
- The court's decision set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
- 법원의 결정은 미래의 유사한 사례들을 위한 선례를 만들었다.