Korean Federation of Trade Unions Also Halts 'Social Dialogue'... Tripartite Commission Says "Dialogue Continues Even During War"

On the 2nd, Kim Dong-myeong, the chairman, along with officials from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency to condemn the police suppression method against Kim Jun-young, the secretary-general of the Metal Workers' Union, who staged a high-altitude protest on a 7-meter-tall steel structure (watchtower) installed on the road in front of the Gwangyang Steelworks in Jeollanam-do on the 31st of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) fully suspended its participation in the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), a social dialogue body under the direct control of the president, on the 7th. In response, the ESLC expressed that it is "very regrettable" and urged FKTU to return to dialogue.

In a statement released that day, the ESLC said, "FKTU has decided to suspend social dialogue," and added, "The council deeply regrets FKTU's decision."

It further emphasized, "There is a saying that 'dialogue continues even during war,'" and stated, "The best way to build a better labor market and labor-management relations that can give hope to future generations is through social dialogue."

The ESLC said, "While respecting FKTU's position, we hope they will return to dialogue to resolve the pressing labor reform issues," and added, "The council will make every effort to actively ensure that labor-management-government dialogue can be newly initiated as soon as possible."

On the same day, FKTU held its 100th emergency central executive committee meeting at the Gwangyang regional branch meeting room in Jeollanam-do and decided to fully suspend participation in the ESLC. Whether to completely withdraw from the ESLC will be decided later by Chairman Kim Dong-myeong and the executive team.

While the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has not participated in social dialogue for 25 years since withdrawing from the predecessor of the ESLC, the Tripartite Commission, in 1999, FKTU has represented the labor sector and participated in the ESLC until now.

Kim Moon-soo, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council
[Photo by Yonhap News]

FKTU's declaration to suspend participation in the ESLC comes 7 years and 5 months after it announced non-participation in the Tripartite Commission during the Park Geun-hye administration in January 2016.

Lee Ji-hyun, FKTU spokesperson, explained after the meeting, "We have decided to engage in a struggle to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," and added, "We will hold the entire organization accountable against the strong repression of the labor sector that cannot be overlooked."

Since even FKTU, which is considered more moderate compared to KCTU, has fully suspended social dialogue, labor reform under the Yoon Seok-yeol government is expected to face even greater conflicts going forward.

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