Workers from port-related organizations in Busan city shout slogans during a rally to plead with the government and creditors of Hanjin Shipping Co. to map out measures to save the troubled shipper in front of the Hanjin group Chairman Cho Yang-ho's office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Hanjin Group said Tuesday it will inject $90 million, including $36 million from its chairman Cho's personal assets, to help resolve disruptions to container cargo transport caused by Hanjin Shipping Co.'s financial troubles.The banners and headbands read "Save Hanjin and Busan port". (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea's top economic policymaker said Wednesday that he expected Hanjin Shipping vessels marooned offshore of Long Beach, California, will be able to offload cargo this week.
Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said at a government meeting that he expects the cargo crisis caused by Hanjin's slide toward bankruptcy will begin to ease this week, according to a ministry statement.
South Korea's biggest ocean shipping line says it is seeking protection from its creditors in dozens of countries. A U.S. federal judge has temporarily granted Hanjin's request for protection from its creditors and scheduled a hearing for Friday. South Korea's government expects a ruling in Hanjin's favor, said Kim Hyun-jung, an official at the foreign affairs ministry.
Hanjin's creditors rejected a rescue plan for the shipping company and refused to provide more funds. The move sent retailers and other companies worldwide scrambling to get at cargo on Hanjin vessels that have been stranded outside ports.
While Hanjin Shipping has over 6 trillion won ($5.5 billion) in debt, it also needs to pay mounting fees to resolve the cargo crisis that sent shockwaves to the global economy ahead of the fall shopping season. Hanjin Group, the parent of the cash-strapped ship liner, has promised $90 million to help relieve the cargo crisis by covering some of those costs.
Local media reports said Wednesday that a South Korean court has asked Hanjin Shipping's main creditor, the state-owned Korea Development Bank, for emergency funding.
Port workers in Busan and Hanjin Shipping labor union officials held rallies Wednesday, urging the government, creditors and Hanjin Group to save the shipping company.
Workers from port-related organizations in Busan city scuffle with police officers during a rally to plead with the government and creditors of Hanjin Shipping Co. to map out measures to save the troubled shipper in front of the Hajin group Chairman Cho Yang-ho's office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Hanjin Group said Tuesday it will inject $90 million, including $36 million from its chairman Cho's personal assets, to help resolve disruptions to container cargo transport caused by Hanjin Shipping Co.'s financial troubles. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Associated Press
Workers from port-related organizations in Busan city scuffle with police officers during a rally to plead with the government and creditors of Hanjin Shipping Co. to map out measures to save the troubled shipper in front of the Hajin group Chairman Cho Yang-ho's office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Hanjin Group said Tuesday it will inject $90 million, including $36 million from its chairman Cho's personal assets, to help resolve disruptions to container cargo transport caused by Hanjin Shipping's financial troubles. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Associated Press
A worker from a port-related organization in Busan city stands during a rally in front of a line of riot police to plead with the government and creditors of Hanjin Shipping Co. to map out measures to save the troubled shipper in front of the Hajin group Chairman Cho Yang-ho's office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Hanjin Group said Tuesday it will inject $90 million, including $36 million from its chairman Cho's personal assets, to help resolve disruptions to container cargo transport caused by Hanjin Shipping's financial troubles. The headband reads "Save Hanjin." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Associated Press
Workers from port-related organizations in Busan city shout slogans during a rally to plead with the government and creditors of Hanjin Shipping Co. to map out measures to save the troubled shipper in front of the Hajin group Chairman Cho Yang-ho's office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Hanjin Group said Tuesday it will inject $90 million, including $36 million from its chairman Cho's personal assets, to help resolve disruptions to container cargo transport caused by Hanjin Shipping's financial troubles. The banners and headbands read "Save Hanjin and Busan port." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Associated Press
South Korean Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho, center, speaks during a minister-level meeting at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Yoo said on Wednesday he expects Hanjin Shipping vessels marooned offshore of Long Beach, California, will be able to offload cargo this week. (Lee Jin-wook/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT
The Associated Press