Unionized subcontractors of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DMSE) hold a rally before starting a hunger strike in front of Korea Development Bank, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap.

By Lee Kyung-min

A month-long strike by unionized subcontractors of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DMSE) has developed into a hunger strike after the workers failed to receive mediation or assistance from the labor and industry ministries a day earlier, according to industry watchers, Friday.

Their collective struggle has been met by rallies held jointly by full-time regular workers of the shipbuilder based in Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province, as well as the island's residents.

The full-time workers and island residents fear that the drawn-out protest by the hardline workers will come at the expense of a much-awaited recovery in Korea's leading manufacturing sector. Korean shipbuilders are one of the country's growth drivers and top global players, having secured 45 percent of the advance orders around the world in the first half of this year, after years of an industry-wide slowdown.

Full-time regular workers of DSME hold a rally on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Yonhap

The group of contractors said late Thursday that they will continue the hunger strike, in protest of the government announcement that characterized their strike as an "illegal occupation of a place of manufacturing, a highly concerning action that will lead to mutual destruction of management and labor."

The collective action began after their demands of a 30 percent wage increase were not met on June 2.

The group said the government should form a negotiating body to resolve the issue.

"We demand prompt action from the government to put this struggle to a mutually agreeable end," they said at the protest in front of Korea Development Bank in Seoul.

Their move came just hours after the labor minister and industry minister urged them to halt the collective action during a press conference.

"It is regretful that some of the union members continue to occupy the area on the Goeje shipyard," Minister of Labor and Employment Lee Jung-Sik said at a press briefing early Thursday at Seoul Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. "Please stop illegal activities and seek dialogue with the management and the government. We will listen and help resolve this issue."

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang said the union's actions have and continued to be destructive for the employees of the firm and their families as well as tens of thousands of other workers employed by the shipbuilder's small partner firms.

"Korea's shipbuilding industry has recovered thanks to soaring demand for eco-friendly ships after years of struggle. The longer the strike continues, the more immense the losses will become," Lee said. "We hope to build a cooperation-driven management-labor relationship."