B) Controversy Over Legality of the Order for Commencement of Business
Operations Under the Trucking Act
The Trucking Act limits the issuance of the order for commencement of business
operations when a refusal to transport cargo, as a group, greatly hinders cargo transport and
causes or is likely to cause a very serious crisis to the national economy. Failure to comply
with the business commencement order may result in cancellation of the transport business
license or worker license, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.
In other words, the order for commencement of business operation can be issued when the
grounds for refusal of collective cargo transportation are not justified and cause a very
serious crisis to the national economy or there is a considerable concern. Administrative and
penalties are provided as a means mandate such duties in case of a non-compliance.
The order for commencement of business operation, the purpose is returning to work
through a government order, is similarly provided in Article 59 of the Medical Service Act
and Article 70 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. The Ministry of Health and Welfare issued
the order in 2000 for the issue of the separation of prescribing and dispensing, in 2014 for the
opposition to telemedicine, and in 2020 for the establishment of a public medical school,
there was a controversy over violating the fundamental rights at the time, as well.542)
Various issues were also raised regarding the legitimacy of the MOLIT’s order.
However, the disagreement on the nature of cargo workers seems to be a premise for the
conflicting views. Cargo workers generally own a truck and are registered as an individual
business operator. They enter into a consignment contract with a transport company, and this
sets them apart from workers who receive a regular wage from the company. However, those
who are subordinate to a specific company and receive direct or indirect work instructions
and supervision and provide labor services are called special type workers.543) There are
conflicting views on whether the cargo worker’s refusal to transport constitutes a labor
dispute, and furthermore, whether the cargo worker’s status as a worker can be recognized as
a special type of worker.544)
542) Young Doctors, “Order to Return to Work to Doctors = Slavery ... Doctors Raising Their Voices, Oct. 10, 2020.
543) Courier drivers, insurance planners, home study teachers, and surrogate drivers may fall under this category.
544) The Supreme Court judged whether a worker is a worker under the Labor Standards Act based on whether the
worker provided work to the employer in a subordinate relationship for the purpose of wages to the business or
222
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