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2 July, 2002Two more trade union leaders have been released from prison as a result of international solidarity action on June 27.
REP. OF KOREA: The president of the Korean Daewoo autoworkers' union, Kim Il-sup, and vice-president, Kim Sung-gap, have been set free.
The Daewoo struggle has been one of the hardest fought in Korea over the last 2 years. In February 2001, Kim Il-sup led the occupation of the Daewoo plants and resisted for 4 days before the riot police broke in. After that the two union leaders were forced to hide in Sangok Cathedral for one year. They were finally caught in February 2002 and sent to prison for 5 years.
Their release came as a great surprise to the IMF-affiliated Korean Metal Workers' Federation. "Nobody expected that they would be released this soon since it is very rare in Korea for those who receive 5 years' imprisonment to be set free," said KMWF spokesperson, Kim Joo-hee.
"Thank you to all IMF affiliates. It is amazing to see the real power of international solidarity this soon!"