The Korean Metal Workers' Union, under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), held a general strike on the 11th, demanding the resignation of President Yoon Suk-yeol. As seen in the slogans raised by the Metal Workers' Union, such as "Immediate resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol, eradication of insurrection forces," this strike is a clear political strike unrelated to workers' rights. Initially, they announced an indefinite general strike but later reduced the strike period to just one day. However, it is concerning that they proceeded with a 'political strike' amid an economic crisis caused by the emergency martial law shock.

On the 11th, the Kia union conducted a strike for a total of 4 hours, with 2 hours each for day and night shifts, and non-regular workers at Hyundai Steel in Chungcheongnam-do and Mobis in Anyang also joined the strike. Previously, the Metal Workers' Union had decided on a strike policy of more than 2 hours during day and night shifts on the 5th and 6th, with about 70,000 participants from companies like Hyundai Motor and GM Korea. The production disruption at Hyundai Motor is estimated to be around 5,000 vehicles, and GM Korea reportedly could not produce over 1,000 vehicles. The Metal Workers' Union includes not only finished car manufacturers like Hyundai Motor, Kia, and GM Korea but also parts suppliers like Hyundai Mobis and Mando. The union plans to escalate its political struggle by holding an expanded executive strike on the 12th and participating in candlelight vigils on the 13th and 14th, which means the automotive industry faces the risk of the union striking at any time.

Striking for political reasons unrelated to working conditions is illegal under current law. The KCTU led candlelight vigils during the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye in 2016 and presented a 'candlelight bill,' raising suspicions that they might be thinking of using the emergency martial law as a driving force again. The sense of crisis in the industrial field is greater than ever. With the threat of U.S. tariffs and the emergency martial law situation increasing market instability, halting factories due to a political strike could severely disrupt exports. The Korea Employers Federation has urged that "the general strike by the Metal Workers' Union should be restrained as it could exacerbate social chaos and difficulties in the livelihood economy." If political strikes that ignore corporate circumstances spread like wildfire, our economy, already on the brink, will inevitably become more dangerous. The KCTU must immediately stop the political strikes that paralyze industrial sites and cause social chaos.