The violence subsided in the afternoon, as police held off from moving into the last occupied paint shop for fear of flammable materials stored inside.

Hundreds of people protested against the police assault outside the plant.

A group of Ssangyong's suppliers said they will ask a bankruptcy court to liquidate the automaker to recover debts unless the occupation ends soon.

The occupation has crippled production at Ssangyong, as workers seek to halt a management plan to get rid of 36 percent of its workforce after the automaker was placed into bankruptcy protection.

Its major stakeholder, China's Shanghai Automotive Industry, had to relinquish management control during the bankruptcy protection process.

Hundreds of dismissed union members have occupied the factory in Pyeongtaek since May 21.