14 October, 2008KMWU President Gab-Deuk Jung was arrested and charged with "obstruction of business" following a series of strikes demanding industry-wide collective bargaining and protesting U.S. beef imports.
KOREA: A representative of the International Metalworkers' Federation went to Korea to monitor the trial of Korean Metal Workers' Union President Gab-Deuk Jung after concerns were raised about whether Jung would receive fair treatment, given the government's recent crackdown on trade union leaders.
Jung, who is facing criminal charges of "obstruction of business", appeared with his lawyers before the judge on October 1. The prosecution read off a list of strike actions Jung took part in.
The prosecution, representing the Federation of Korean Industries, an umbrellas group of employers' associations, is pressing for Jung's imprisonment and compensation for alleged billions in company losses. Some 90 companies have submitted to the court a list of costs as a result of their "suffering" from the strikes.
However, the case hinges on whether the judge will rule if the strikes were illegal or not. "While negotiations were going on you demanded all companies to come together to collectively bargain, and then went on strike" argued the prosecution, "that is not a justified reason for a strike."
"It's true there were strikes," argued the defence, "but we had justified reasons for these strikes." Lawyers for Jung asserted that all of the strikes mentioned were legal and legitimate, adding that the union took great care to ensure that all proper forms were submitted and all legal procedures were meticulously adhered to.
Jung is currently being held at Young-Deng-po Correctional Justice facility on the outskirts of Seoul. The KMWU has filed a request for bail and are awaiting a decision. If bail is granted, the amount will be determined by the alleged losses claimed by the companies. If Jung is found guilty he could face imprisonment for two to three years.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 15.