South Korea increases back-to-work orders on thousands of striking truckers

South Korea’s government has expanded its back-to-work orders against thousands of truck drivers who are staging a nationwide walkout over freight fare issues, saying a prolonged strike could inflict ‘deep scars’ on the country’s economy (Kim In-chul/Yonhap/AP)

South Korea’s government has expanded its back-to-work orders against thousands of truck drivers who are staging a nationwide walkout over freight fare issues, saying a prolonged strike could inflict “deep scars” on the country’s economy.

The “work start” orders on steel and fuel truckers were inevitable because the strike could begin to hurt major export industries like automobiles and shipbuilding if it extends further, Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said in a news conference.