Yonsei University to Discuss Improving Workers' Conditions with Laborers... Alumni Lawmakers Mediate

School "Plans to Hold a Meeting Soon"
Conservative Lawyer Takes on Lawsuit Representation for Current Students
Possibility of Formal Trial Beyond Written Disputes
Similar Precedent: 2006 HUFS Student Council-Union Lawsuit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Yonsei University appears to be set to discuss issues of treatment improvement with on-campus workers.

According to the university on the 20th, on the afternoon of the 18th, Democratic Party lawmakers Woo Won-sik and Kim Seong-hwan, both Yonsei alumni, held a meeting with President Seo Seung-hwan and other school officials. They urged the school to take measures as the primary contractor regarding the demands of on-campus workers and proposed a roundtable between the school and the workers. The school agreed and stated that it would proceed promptly.

Separately, the civil lawsuit filed by enrolled students is likely to proceed to trial. Previously, on the 13th, three people including lawyer Yoo Seung-su from the conservative-leaning "Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyun)" submitted a power of attorney to the Seoul Western District Court, acting as representatives for the students. Yonsei alumni legal professionals have already represented the workers in their lawsuit. The workers' legal team said, "The workers hoped to resolve the issue amicably through dialogue with the students and have the lawsuit withdrawn, but it does not seem easy at this point," adding that they expect to continue exchanging written responses and engage in a 'dispute.' The key issues are whether ▲ the workers' on-campus assemblies constitute legitimate industrial action, ▲ if so, whether the students' interests were infringed, and ▲ whether the workers are responsible for such infringement.

A similar case is the 2006 lawsuit filed by the student council of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies against the university labor union claiming damages. At that time, the university labor union's HFU branch went on strike for about seven months after the university refused to negotiate, citing issues with some union members' status. The union held protests including occupying the main building, and the student council filed a damage claim lawsuit for 1.53 billion won against the union. Similar to the Yonsei case, the claim was based on the premise that 'excessive noise interfered with the right to study.'

The first and second trial courts dismissed all claims by the student council, and the student council abandoned the appeal. The courts ruled that "the responsibility for the students' inconvenience lies with the university, not the union." The courts stated, "Our constitution guarantees the three labor rights as fundamental rights to secure workers' right to livelihood by ensuring substantive equality in labor relations," and "the exercise of the three labor rights inevitably infringes to some extent on the interests of employers or third parties." Furthermore, the courts ruled, "Considering that it is a principle for employers who have contractual relationships with third parties to bear responsibility, the recognition of tort liability for damages to third parties caused by industrial action should be interpreted restrictively."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.