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11 April, 2000The IMF condemns the government's use of threats to suppress the general strike.
KOREA, REP: In an attempt to suppress the general strike underway in South Korea since April 6, the government has threatened strikers by issuing arrest warrants for 35 of their leaders. With general elections on April 13, the government is trying to minimise the potentially negative political effect the strike may have. It is very typical of the Korean government to resort to harassment and arrests in order to prevent workers and trade unions from carrying out their union activities.
A total of 83,000 workers are presently participating in the strike - 80,000 from the auto industry (see earlier news items on this website), who have now been joined by 3,000 workers from Orion, a company producing computer monitors. Orion workers are striking over the employer's refusal to recognise their trade union.
The IMF condemns the use of threats and force to resolve the current problems and calls on the Korean government to establish genuine dialogue with the workers and their trade unions.
The following 35 trade unionists have arrest warrants issued against them, for obstruction of business:
Hyundai Motor Co. Workers' Union:
Jeong Kap-deng, president
Hong Young-chul, chief vice president
Mun Young-mun, vice president
Ha Pu-young, vice president
Lee Young-jin, representative
Cho Young-hyong, representative
Choi Tae-sup, representative
Chin Byoung-hwa, asst. director, Organising Dept.
Kim Keun-tae, director, Organising Dept.
Kim Dae-young, director, Organising Dept.
Ko In-sup, director, Education Dept.
Um Kyo-soo, director, Planning Dept.
Daewoo Motor Co. Workers' Union:
Chu Young-hoo, president
Yoen Byong-chul, chief vice president
Kang Won-hee, director, Planning Dept.
Chang Sun-kil, director, Organising Dept.
Kim Cho-hyen, asst. director, Dispute Dept.
Min Kee, representative
Park Chi-bun, representative
Bok Jae-hyen, member
Ryo Hyun-duk, representative
Hwang Seong-jin, representative
Na Young-sun, representative
Chang Chul-kook, representative
Cho Ha-woo, representative
Kim Ki-bum, representative
Kim Hun-hee, representative.
Orion Co. Workers' Union:
Hang Jun-young, president
Kwon Sung-ki, chief vice president
Ahn Woon-sik, vice president
Lee Woon-hwan, vice president
Kim Young-suk, asst. director, Organising Dept.
Cho Chang-hun, asst. director, Cultural Dept.
Chang Seong-jin, asst. director, Organising Dept.
Ssang-yong Motor Co. Workers' Union:
Yoo Man-jong, president.
A total of 83,000 workers are presently participating in the strike - 80,000 from the auto industry (see earlier news items on this website), who have now been joined by 3,000 workers from Orion, a company producing computer monitors. Orion workers are striking over the employer's refusal to recognise their trade union.
The IMF condemns the use of threats and force to resolve the current problems and calls on the Korean government to establish genuine dialogue with the workers and their trade unions.
The following 35 trade unionists have arrest warrants issued against them, for obstruction of business:
Hyundai Motor Co. Workers' Union:
Jeong Kap-deng, president
Hong Young-chul, chief vice president
Mun Young-mun, vice president
Ha Pu-young, vice president
Lee Young-jin, representative
Cho Young-hyong, representative
Choi Tae-sup, representative
Chin Byoung-hwa, asst. director, Organising Dept.
Kim Keun-tae, director, Organising Dept.
Kim Dae-young, director, Organising Dept.
Ko In-sup, director, Education Dept.
Um Kyo-soo, director, Planning Dept.
Daewoo Motor Co. Workers' Union:
Chu Young-hoo, president
Yoen Byong-chul, chief vice president
Kang Won-hee, director, Planning Dept.
Chang Sun-kil, director, Organising Dept.
Kim Cho-hyen, asst. director, Dispute Dept.
Min Kee, representative
Park Chi-bun, representative
Bok Jae-hyen, member
Ryo Hyun-duk, representative
Hwang Seong-jin, representative
Na Young-sun, representative
Chang Chul-kook, representative
Cho Ha-woo, representative
Kim Ki-bum, representative
Kim Hun-hee, representative.
Orion Co. Workers' Union:
Hang Jun-young, president
Kwon Sung-ki, chief vice president
Ahn Woon-sik, vice president
Lee Woon-hwan, vice president
Kim Young-suk, asst. director, Organising Dept.
Cho Chang-hun, asst. director, Cultural Dept.
Chang Seong-jin, asst. director, Organising Dept.
Ssang-yong Motor Co. Workers' Union:
Yoo Man-jong, president.