“Withdraw the industrial complex development plan that takes away the livelihoods of workers and their families.”
On Nov. 11, the Anyang Parkdal Workers' Solidarity held a large rally in front of Anyang City Hall to oppose the creation of the Parkdal Knowledge-Based Industrial Complex.
Anyang City is pursuing a project to develop the Parkdal Industrial Complex into a high-tech industrial area by attracting information technology (IT) and biotechnology (BT) corporations. To this end, Anyang City is currently discussing development processes with existing resident corporations regarding relocation or re-entry after development. Anyang City is aiming to begin construction of the Parkdal Knowledge-Based Industrial Complex in 2029.
However, the labor unions of the corporations residing in the Parkdal Industrial Complex, including Noroo Paint, CJ Freshway, Hite Jinro, and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, formed the Parkdal Workers' Solidarity and are resisting, stating that “Anyang City did not engage in genuine discussions with the corporations at the stage of reviewing the industrial complex development.” They claim that Anyang City is unilaterally advancing the development project.
About 1,500 workers and their families from the Parkdal Industrial Complex, including employees of Noroo Paint and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, participated in the rally. They urged, “Anyang City is robbing our jobs and destroying workers' rights to survive,” and called for the immediate withdrawal of the development plan from Anyang City, which ignores workers' voices.
According to the Workers' Solidarity, Anyang City and Anyang Urban Development Corporation, which is responsible for the industrial complex development project, requested relocation from resident corporations even though the project plan for the Parkdal Knowledge-Based Industrial Complex had not been finalized. Moreover, the corporations within the complex were notified of the advancement of the development project in July of this year.
The Workers' Solidarity claimed that “(Anyang City) says there is no problem in the development process, citing discussions of unilateral and fanciful plans with some corporations.”
In response, an official from Anyang City stated, “We are currently discussing re-entry or compensation transfers for existing resident corporations following the industrial complex development,” and added, “Improving the outdated facilities and environment in the Parkdal Industrial Complex is also our important role.”