But workers angrily reacted to the move to allow redundancies, accusing President-elect Kim of going back on his campaign promises. "We, workers, are deeply disappointed and feel betrayed by President-elect Kim Dae-Jung," said a member of a financial workers' union who staged a demonstration at the headquarters of Kim's party, the National Congress for New Politics.

Layoffs Granted in Principle by President-Elect's Team Korea Times 29.12.97

A group of people came to NCNP party headquarters yesterday and protested against policies granting layoffs. There is absolutely no doubt that a series of similar incidents will follow. It is a major threat to the 13 million laborers of this country that the president-elect and his team permitted the layoffs in principle.

Spearheading the protest was the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the second largest but most militant labor group in Korea. Rallies were held nationwide Saturday. Thousands of angry KCTU members rallied in Seoul, Taegu, Kwangju and Ulsan at the same time and strongly called for the withdrawal of the government's move to allow layoffs.

In a meeting with representatives of the hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Saturday, Kim sought their cooperation to cope with the IMF-controlled economy. . . . Acting KCTU chairman Bae Suk-bom said, "Before the presidential election, you emphasized job security repeatedly. As soon as you were elected, you set free two former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. The National Assembly killed the real-name financial transaction system. On the fourth day following your victory, you said in front of American officials layoffs are inevitable." He said, "We must express deep disappointment over your change of stance in a matter of days, adding that we cannot shed the impression that the president-elect represents the interests of management only."

In a related story, labor activist-turned-politician Kwon Young-kil said he opposed the move by the government and the International Monetary Fund to introduce the law to allow layoffs. Kwon, who ran in the presidential election last week on the People's Victory 21 ticket, feared that the layoffs, which the government hopes will accelerate the restructuring of the country's firms, will cause mass unemployment and eventually trigger the collapse of Korean society. In a ceremony to disband the election headquarters, Kwon denounced the government for trying to shift responsibility for the financial crisis to laborers, insisting that the ``main culprit of the current economic crisis is the collusion between the government and chaebol.'' Kwon also said he will devote himself to launching a progressive political party, hoping that major industrial areas like Ulsan, Changwon, Inchon and Ansan will be able to produce representatives in parliament and local assemblies and governments. Kwon's hope is based on the better-than-expected results in those areas in the past presidential election, he said. Thousands of workers meanwhile held sit-ins in downtown Seoul, Ulsan and Taegu to denounce the government's attempt to introduce the law for layoffs.

Kim Dae-jung, South Korea's president-elect, warned unions that job cuts would be inevitable, while proposing a new flexible industrial relations policy.

Chong Song-hee, the director of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), commented that the plan of government and business is to cover up the cause of the present exchange crisis, and his members cannot accept the approach that labor, which had worked hard, suffer, while conglomerate management, that operated poorly escape responsibility. If they force such an agreement, the KCTU will oppose it, possibly organizing a general strike.

Kim to propose new anti-labour laws . . . Korea: Nervous statement by Kim fuels debt default fears Mr Kim, who has close ties with trade unions, yesterday said he would push for early parliamentary passage of labour laws making it easier for companies to sack workers as part of industrial restructuring. Financial Times 24.12.97 You need to register at the Financial Times to read this article, but registration is free. Lay-offs Acceptable During Corporate Mergers In preparation of an action plan to meet the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions, President-elect Kim Dae-jung will introduce a special legislation during the extraordinary session of the National Assembly allowing lay-offs during corporate mergers. Joongang-Ilbo English news 24.12.97 . . . but FKTU hails his victory in election FKTU [Federation of Korean Trade Unions] welcomes election victory of Kim FKTU press release 19.12.97

Meet South Korea's New President: Kim Dae Jung "Fully Supports" IMF Deal, Will "Strictly Adhere to Market Economy" President-Elect Kim Fully Supports IMF Deal-Proposes Summit With Kim Jong-il Korea Times 19.12.97 Kim Dae-jung Will Strictly Adhere to Market Economy Joongang-Ilbo English News 20.12.97 President Elect To Honor IMF Accord Digital Chosun 19.12.97 But there is also another viewpoint . . . Korean Confederation of Trade Unions: Recent statements on the crisis: IMF Bailout and Employment Crisis: The Labor response [Dec 11, 1997] IMF Crisis: Korean Economy and Trade Union Movement on Test [Dec 15, 1997] The KCTU Proposal for An Agreement to Overcome the Economic Crisis [Dec 15, 1997] A Letter To the U.S. Goverment and the International Monetatry Fund [Dec 17, 1997]

People's Victory 21 disappoints: Kwon receives only 306,000 votes (1.2%) People's Victory 21: Final Report on the Election Full statistics and party statement Election results 19.12.97 Korea Times Election results 19.12.97 Korea Herald Election results 19.12.97 KoreanPolitics.com Korea 97 Presidential Election 19.12.97 Korea97.org Seoul: Centre-left wins narrow victory in South Korea 19.12.97 Financial Times Yahoo! coverage of the election BBC coverage of the election

"Candidates' Performance Memorandum for the Resolution of National Calamity and Stability of Employment/Hong Yeopyo, a leader of Machang section of KCTU and Changwon branch of PV21 was arrested on December 14th. /Union of Hyundai Motors held a rally for stability of employment ..."

"So far, the unions have not taken to the picket lines in protest. Kim Tae Hyun, director of the planning department at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which led the strikes a year ago when a short-lived law made it easier to dismiss workers, said the group first wanted to press employers to shorten working hours. "

As the men met in the presidential Blue House, about 2,000 angry students and workers filled the Myongdong commercial district to condemn the $57 billion IMF loan.

"The government and rich company owners ruined the economy, and now they tell us to take all the pains," one labor leader shouted. "We never will!"

"We oppose IMF trusteeship! Abolish the IMF agreement!" the protesters chanted.

Some demonstrators carried signs reading, "Arrest (President) Kim Young-sam for ruining the economy."

The protesters plan an even bigger demonstration on Sunday.

Youth Canvassing Group constructed . . . Protesting inquiry sent to the Daily Han-gyo-reh . . . Press Release of PV21 [on FKTU President's endorsement of Kim Daejung] . . . Central Labor Committee decided 'unjustness of Sammi Special Steel's dismissal' . . . Daenohyup(Federation of Daewoo Unions) is strongly against the 'Freezing Wages and More Work Campaign' by the management . . . Unionists of Halla Group had a press interview . . . The staffs of Korean Telecommunication Public Coporation was accused of sexual harassment . . . PV21 Pledges on education, environment. 11.12.97

"Kwon Young-kil of the People's Victory (PV), a progressive labor union leader, is the most organized candidate among the four. He drew attention from the public during the nationwide protest against endorsement of new labor laws last year. Kwon was the leading figure during the protest, providing him with wide public exposure. The PV's campaign strategy is geared toward organizing regional tours, mobilizing labor union members at local cities. The tour started in Masan and Changwon, two strong bases of labor union activities, and moved across the peninsula to the southern cities of Kumi, Taegu, and Pusan. Kwon has advocated the need for a president with working level experience who can understand the true nature of domestic economy. 'One who has previous working level experience can restore the domestic economy, currently in crisis. I can resolve the problem of prevailing unemployment,' Kwon said at one of his campaign speeches. He has also organized campaign teams assigned to each region, 'Spring Breeze Team' for Yongnam, 'Red Rose Team' for Seoul and others. Kwon and his PV recently produced six campaign songs including 'Wake Up Korea' and 'Hope' and distributed them to the public on streets. While the major candidates appear on high-priced television commercials, Kwon has collected donations from the public totalling 30 million won to produce similar advertisements. Kwon has argued all candidates must be given an equal opportunity to take part in the nationwide televised debates rather than the current policy which says only major political party candidates or those with more than 10 percent of public support can participate." -- Korea Times 10.12.97

Victory for Sammi Steel Workers! Korean Steel Workers Get Important Victory for Worker's Rights - Labor Commission Rules against Layoffs of Korean steel workers International Politics & Economy Center of Korea (IPECK) 10.12.97 Labor Commission Rules against Layoffs during M&As [mergers and acquisitions] -- "In a decision which runs counter to previous Supreme Court rulings, the commission ordered a local steel maker [Changwon] to hire all workers of another company [Sammi Steel] it had taken over " 10.12.97 Korea Herald

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