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During the 2009 strike at Ssangyong Motors, the government filed a lawsuit for damages claiming that equipment such as helicopters were broken because of the labor union.
In the first and second trials, the union recognized responsibility for compensation, but the Supreme Court made a different decision.
Reporter Han So-hee reports.
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On August 4, 2009, 75 days after Ssangyong Motor workers protested against the dismissal of 2,600 workers and locked the front gate of the Pyeongtaek plant, the police began to disperse them.
Helicopters sprayed tear gas and cranes lifted containers to intimidate workers.
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The unions fought back with iron pipes and homemade guns.
After the situation calmed down, the police filed a lawsuit for damages of 1.4 billion won against about 100 workers, claiming responsibility for the injuries to the police officer and the damage to the helicopter and crane.
The first and second trial judges judged that the workers should compensate the state for 1.1 billion won.
After 13 years of court battles, the Supreme Court decision was different.
The Supreme Court said, "There is a possibility that the police intentionally flying a helicopter low at the time to approach the workers and spraying tear gas in the air are illegal."
In addition, it was considered excessive to pay 80% of the repair costs for the damaged crane to the union, as in the centrifugal judgment.
Ssangyong Motor workers urged the state to withdraw the cattle.
[Kim Deuk-joong/Director of Ssangyong Motors, Korea Metal Workers' Union: I want to give the police
a chance to apologize for their violence and excessive suppression and to end the pain as quickly as they have given Ssangyong workers for 13 years.]
The High Court will review again, but as the Supreme Court exempted some of the workers' responsibilities, the final compensation is expected to be lower than 1.1 billion won.