(Seoul=NSP NEWS) = The Federation of Korean Trade Unions' Korea Zinc Workers' Union and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions' Mart Industry Workers' Union have launched a joint solidarity struggle to condemn private equity firm MBK Partners as speculative capital.

On the 30th, the two major labor federations held a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul and urged MBK Partners to halt its attempt to take over Korea Zinc in hostile terms and to immediately resolve the Homeplus crisis. This day marked the 48th day of the fourth indefinite hunger strike demanding the normalization of Homeplus.

The labor union emphasized that Korea Zinc is a key national infrastructure industry responsible for the rare mineral supply chain and criticized MBK's attempt to make a tender offer for a stake, stating that it undermines industrial competitiveness and threatens employment.

They also pointed out Homeplus's irresponsible "eat-and-run" management and demanded that it stop destroying workplaces.

Along with this, they strongly urged the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party of Korea to fulfill their promise to resolve the past Homeplus scandal and to establish institutional measures to prevent recurrence and stop the indiscriminate corporate raiding by private equity funds.

The press conference on this day was moderated by Jeon Hyeong-ryeol, Secretary General of the Korea Zinc Union, and proceeded with remarks by National Assembly member Jeong Hye-gyeong of the Progressive Party urging the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence, remarks by Ahn Su-yong, Branch Manager of the Homeplus Branch of the Mart Union urging the government to fulfill its promises, followed by the reading of the press conference statement by Lee Eun-seon, Chairperson of the Korea Zinc Union.