CONDEMN GOVERNMENT REPRESSION AGAINST FUNDAMENTAL TRADE UNION RIGHTS IN SOUTH KOREA.

When South Korea joined the Organization of Economic and Commercial Development (OECD) in 1996, there was much hoopla and expectations. To the international community it appeared that South Korea was on the brink of shedding is shameful image of dictatorship that undermined democracy and fundamental trade union rights.

At the time, South Korea had agreed that it would amend its existing labour legislation in line with existing international labour standards and OECD guidelines. However, ten years later, South Korea has still a long way to go. The recent repressive actions of the South Korean government under the Roh Moon Hyun administration clearly shows that South Korea has failed as an economically developed democratic country in ensuring fundamental trade union rights according to international labour standards.

In March of this year, the Governing Body of the ILO approved the interim report made by the Committee on Freedom of Association. Apparently, the South Korea case was the longest of outstanding case within the CFA aside from one filed against Columbia. The recommendations raised serious concerns on the government's repressions against trade unions, specifically the Korean Government Employees Union (KGEU) and the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions (KFCITU). However, the government not only has refused to implement these recommendations but more importantly it has chosen to intensify its attacks on the KGEU and the KFCITU, thus, snubbing its "nose" to international labour standards.
Attack against the KGEU

Since 2002, the ILO has called on the South Korean government to recognize the KGEU but the government steadfastly refuses to do so, stating that the KGEU is an illegal organization under the existing labour laws. Despite calls by the international community to change these laws as it violates the core ILO conventions, the government has refused to do so. In a flagrant disregard to these international demands, the South Korean government has once again launched a full fledged attack against the KGEU through a serious of actions, the most blatant being the coordinated forced closure of all local KGEU union offices.

On Friday, September 22, the government sent in thousands of riot police across the country to use "any means necessary" to shut down the KGEU union offices. The police identified "any means necessary" as using fire extinguishers, fire-fighting dust, hammers, claw hammers, hammer drills, and power saws." Armed with these weapons, riot police and hired thugs forced inside local union offices, using brute force dragged KGEU members and their supporters outside the office, and then finally shutting and sealing the offices like coffins. In the words of a KEGU leader, "more than 100 municipalities nation wide turned into battle fields." By the end of the day out of a total 251 local union offices, 81 were completely shut down. Many were injured and as a result some were hospitalised. Some KGEU members and their supporters were arrested and detained. It is quite clear that the government is determined to do everything in its power to systematically destroy the KGEU.
85 KFCITU Members Imprsioned

Across the country over 100 trade unionists have been imprisoned just for exercising their fundamental trade union rights---right to organize, the right to strike, and the right to bargain. The KFCITU members consists the majority of those in jail due to a series of strikes conducted by KFCITU affiliates, specifically, its Daegu local union, Ulsan local union, and the Pohang local union. Stating that KFCITU members incited violence, caused disturbance of the peace, and coordinated or participated in violent, illegal industrial actions, the government has imprisoned 85 KFCITU members. Much more alarming is the fact the government habitually mobilizes thousands of riot police across the country to forcibly break KFCITU actions and strikes. Despite the fact that the union has legal permits that give them the right to conduct demonstration and marches, the police will often bar them going forward or attempt to shut down the actions. At times, the police violence is extreme resulting in many injuries and in the case of Ha Joong Keun, a tragic death. Brother Ha died from injuries he suffered after several riot police repeatedly beat him on the head with their metal shield. To date, Roh Moo Hyun government has refused to accept full responsibility and call for an end to police violence during industrial actions.

Even though the CFA raised serious concerns in the South Korean government using criminal law to arrest and imprison union leaders and organizers, throughout this summer, the prosecution has once again charged KFCITU organizers for using force, bribery, and extortion. The organizer's only "crime" has been to recruit and organize construction site workers, one of the most marginalized in South Korean society.
"September 11 Deal"---Legislative Measures to Undermine Labour Rights

On September 11, the South Korean government announced the "Grand Tripartite Agreement" on the Roadmap for Industrial Relations Reforms. The proposed agreement was negotiated and agreed by the members of the tripartite committee---the Ministry of Labor, the Korean Employer's Federation, the Korean Chamber of Commerce, the Korean Tripartite Commission and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). However, one of the tripartite members, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) representing 800,000 members was deliberately excluded from this meeting, as it was not even notified about the meeting itself even though they had been participating in previous meetings.

This bill, referred to as the "9-11 Deal", falls far short of the original legislative objective of reforming industrial relations and systems in South Korea. The government had publicly stated that the main principles behind their proposal were to "build industrial relations that conform to international standards, form multiple-level social partnership and to establish voluntary industrial relations grounded in both autonomy and responsibility." However, the "9-11 Deal is completely contrary to that goal. The main reason being that once again the government has deferred the existence of multiple unions at the enterprise level for another three years. In doing this, the government has in the words of the ICTFU/TUAC/GUFs mission has taken a "disturbing step backwards."

In addition, the South Korean government has stated that the new agreement is in line with international standards since it has repealed provisions mandating compulsory arbitration but in reality the government has done the exact opposite, as they have replaced with "essential services" and in fact the government has actually expanded the scope of "essential" public services to include air transport, blood supply, water purification, and steam and hot water supply. Thus, even though even though compulsory arbitration is repealed on paper, workers in the "essential" public services will not be able to truly exercise their right to collective actions.
General Strike and International Day of Action

Despite the government repression and the challenges they are facing, the KCTU is determined to proceed forward. The KCTU has developed and plans to implement a national, comprehensive, strategic campaign to mobilize its 800,000 members against the South Korean government's repressive efforts to undermine fundamental labour rights in South Korea. KCTU members will be organized and mobilized in full force as their right to exist is once again threatened. The KCTU will launch a General Strike on November 15 and in conjunction with this strike, the KCTU calls on the international community to coordinate a series of actions and events to support their struggle.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Participate in the International Day of Action (November 15, 2006) by conducting a demonstration in front of a South Korean embassy or consulate, coordinating a press conference, or issuing. When you plan to organise something on that day, please let us know. We will update your plans on our web-site.

Send a protest letter to President Roh Moo Hyun at the Blue House: 82-2-770-1690 (Fax) or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copies should be sent to the Minister of Labour, Minister Lee Sang-Soo at 82-2-504-6708, 82-2-507-4755 (Fax) or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

And sent to the Minister of General Administration and Home Affairs, Minister Lee Yong-Sup at 82-2-2100-4001(Fax)

Please send copies to the KCTU at 82-2-2635-1134(Fax) or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We will continue to update related information.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact:
Lee Changgeun
International Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea