Day of Action for South Korea

REP. OF KOREA/GLOBAL: June 27, trade unions around the world participated in a Day of Action, calling for the immediate release of imprisoned trade unionists in Korea. Currently, a total of 52 South Korean trade unionists are in prison on account of their legitimate trade union activities, including Dan Byung-ho, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). Update: April 3, 2003, Dan Byung-ho was released from prison, having served the full term of a 20-month prison sentence. Click here to read more. Update: July 3, 2002, two trade union leaders were released from prison as a result of the Day of Action. Click here to read more. Examples of actions taken on June 27:

• Australia: Rally; Posters; Petition.
• Germany: Demonstration in Berlin.
• South Korea: Demonstration; March; Press conference
• India: Protest meetings; Protest letter (SMEFI, IMWF)
• South Africa: Picket attended by 500 trade unionists
• Sweden: Action outside S.Korean Embassy
• USA: Picket, information leaflets; Protest letters
• Mauritius: Protest march; Press conference; Display of posters.
• Belgium: Protest rally; Distribution of posters; Opinion column
• Japan: Meeting with S.Korean gov. representative, presenting protest letter
• France: Protest letter
• Mozambique: Protest letter (SINTIME)
• Bangladesh: Protest meeting with 300 participants
• Malaysia: 100 unionists protested. Protest letter has been handed over.
• Denmark: Protest letter
• Switzerland: Demonstration; Meeting with ambassador
• Ukraine: Protest letter
• Russia: Trade union presidents meet representative of S.Korean government
• Estonia: Protest letter
• Latvia: Protest letter
• Lithuania: Protest letter
• Austria: Protest letter (GMT)
• Indonesia: 560 people attended a protest action outside the S.Korean embassy
• Brazil: Demonstration; Protest letter
• Singapore: Protest letter (IMF Singapore Council)
• Hong Kong: HKTUC presented a protest letter at the Korean Consulate
• Colombia: Protest letter (UTRAMMICOL)
• Thailand: 70 people demonstrated outside the S.Korean embassy
• Philippines: Protest meeting, 25 trade unionists participated
• Norway: Protest letter
• Portugal: Protest letter; Other protests
• Mexico: Protest letters
• Uruguay: Protest letter
• New Caledonia: Protest letter (SOENC)
• Honduras: Protest letter (FETRAMIMH)
• Argentina: Protest letter (SMATA, AOMA, ASIMRA, UOMRA)
• Chile: Protest letter (CONSFETEMA)
• Canada: Protest letter (CAW)
• Turkey: Protest letter (Ozcelik-IS)
• Nepal: Protest letter
• Sri Lanka: Protest letter
• Belarus: Protest letter
• Israel: Protest letter

On June 28, the Korean Metalworkers' Federation thanked the IMF and the IMF affiliates for their solidarity actions. Click here to read their letter. The Public Services International (PSI) joined the IMF in calling on all their affiliates to take action and the Global Unions was also backing the protest action (see www.global-unions.org/korea2002). The German IMF-affiliate IG Metall, in cooperation with Amnesty International, has also launched the campaign MAYDAY, calling upon the public to help politically persecuted trade unionists. Click here to read more about the IG Metall campaign. See also our sheet of Frequently asked questions about the Day of Action. Click here to reach a collection of pictures from different actions around the world. Do you want to take concrete action? Send a digital letter of protest to Kim Dae-jung. Are you in doubt that the South Korean police assault trade unionists? View a video showing riot police attacking workers.
The Day of Action follows on from previous action taken by metalworkers on January 22, action which is believed to be partly responsible for the release of Mun Sung-hyun, former president of the Korean Metal Workers' Federation (KMWF), on March 26, 2002. Click here to read more about the previous Day of Action.