28 April, 2009
In 2002, metalworkers around the world took part in two coordinated global days of action calling for the release of more than fifty imprisoned Korean trade unionists, including Korean Metal Workers' Federation (KMWF) President Mun Sung-hyan and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) President and former metalworkers' leader, Dan Byung-ho.
Arrested for union activities
In November 2001, Mun Sung-hyan took part in the International Metalworkers' Federation's World Congress in Sydney, Australia. Soon after his return to Seoul he was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. His alleged crime was that he had organised strikes and taken part in other trade union activities. Other Korean trade unionists were also jailed during the government crackdown.
Together with its Korean affiliates, the IMF organised two days of action calling for the release of all trade unionists from Korean prisons.
IMF affiliates unite around the globe
An unprecedented level of action was taken by IMF affiliates around the globe including Seoul, Mumbai, Berlin, Washington, Pretoria, Sydney, Tokyo, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok. In total, metalworkers in 65 countries participated.
Nine weeks after the first global day of action, Mun Sung-hyan was released from prison. One week after the second day of action the president of the Korean Daewoo autoworkers' union, Kim Il-sup, and vice-president, Kim Sung-gap, were also set free.
Early the following year Dan Byung-ho was also finally set free.
The release of these trade unionists was a victory for workers around the world who took part in solidarity actions in support of Korean trade unions. Those who were freed went back to work, planning important actions to further the rights of Korean metalworkers.