Kim Dong-ha, branch chief of the Korean Metal Workers' Union at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, began an indefinite crane-top sit-in at the company's Ulsan shipyard in South Korea on Sunday, October 18.
Kim climbed a crane in the small-assembly storage area serving Large Assembly Plant 1 at around 17:00 local time. He is protesting alone at a height of approximately 25 metres, with union representatives and company security personnel monitoring from below.
The union has called seven-hour partial strikes involving all members from October 19 to 23. It expanded the October 19–20 action, originally planned as four-hour stoppages by union officials, to include the entire membership.
The escalation follows the rejection of a tentative wage and collective bargaining agreement reached on September 30.
In an October 2 ballot, 52.14 per cent of 7,541 voters opposed the deal, which included a KRW120,000 ($90) monthly base-pay increase and lump-sum payments of KRW11 million plus 200 per cent.
The union is seeking a greater share of profits, better conditions for subcontractor workers, an end to discrimination against migrant workers and stronger safety protections. Its safety demands follow fatal accidents at the company's Ulsan and Gunsan yards in July.
The union said the shipbuilder's 2026 operating profit is estimated to exceed KRW4 trillion, nearly double the previous year's level.
Members authorised industrial action in August. The company said it had negotiated in good faith and would work to resolve the situation promptly and restore normal negotiations.
