[THE INVESTOR] Railway services will run as scheduled next week despite a unionized railroad workers’ strike, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Sept. 23.

“The government will do its utmost to minimize any inconvenience to the people and will sternly deal with any illegal activities,” the ministry said.

The government will use temporary workers, with the military also providing their skilled drivers, it added.

Operations of other passenger train services, including Saemaul trains, will likely be reduced to around 60 percent of their normal levels should unionized workers of the state-run Korea Railroad go on strike starting Sept. 26 as scheduled.

In such a case, the government will expand other means of travel, such as buses, to cover the routes with reduced train services.

For cargo train services, whose operation levels are expected to fall to as low as 30 percent, the government said it will work to have most cargo moved before the strike and use additional cargo trucks should the labor walkout become extended or more serious, the ministry said in a press release.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)