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Act NOW!
Korea: Stop arrests of trade union leaders

Following a massive wave of protests and demonstrations, on 24 July the South Korean government issued arrest warrants for top leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) including Lee Suk-haeng (President - pictured) and Lee Yong-shik (General Secretary). Ms. Jin Young-ok, First Vice-President of the KCTU has been arrested and detained.

The police surrounded the building where the main office of the KCTU is located, ready to move in and arrest the leaders. Arrest warrants have also been issued for other union leaders (see list below).

This anti-union repression threatens to return Korea to the dark days of the military dictatorship which ended two decades ago. Korean trade unionists are asking for a huge international campaign to pressure their government to respect human rights.

List of other trade union leaders for whom arrest warrants have been issued:

Jung Gab-deuk, President, KMWU
Nam Taek-gyu, First Vice-president, KMWU
Yoon Hae-mo, President, Hyundai Motor Branch
Kim Tae-gon, First Vice-president, Hyundai Motor Branch
Kim Jong-il, Vice-president, Hyundai Motor Branch
Jung Chang-bong, Vice-president, Hyundai Motor Branch
Joo In-koo, Vice-president, Hyundai Motor Branch
Jo Chang-min, Secretary,Hyundai Motor Branch

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Type in your message here - or just use the existing message. To President Lee Myung-bak and Police Commissioner Eo Cheong-soo I call upon your government to immediately stop the repression against the KCTU and its affiliates, release the detainees and call off arrest warrants. South Korea must respect fundamental trade union rights, including the right to strike. I support the call on your government to fully implement the recommendations of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association and guarantee freedom of assembly and the people's right to dissent. Sincerely, If you would like to receive future urgent action alerts from us, please check this box: Your message will be sent to the following email addresses: president@cwd.go.kr, inter@kctu.org

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Latest news about this campaign

• Int'l labor group protests detention of union activist • Protest South Korean government arrests of unionists • Krack Down! Korea busts labour • ITUC Calls on Authorities to Cease Repression of KCTU • British TUC: Korean Government 'in the dock' over union repression • MP protests against crackdown on unions in South Korea • ITUC protests detention, arrest threats in Korea [PDF] • Law and order as police crack down on KCTU • KCTU calls for international solidarity following arrest warrants against leaders • KCTU Leaders Face Arrests Over Candlelit Demonstrations • Urgent appeal for solidarity with arrested KCTU leaders • More Attacks Against KCTU - Protests Are Continuing • Police seek top labour leader's arrest • Arrest warrant issued for 3 KCTU leaders • Businesses hit back after weeks of street protests

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Status

Campaign launched: 04-Aug-2008 This campaign is ACTIVE.