KCTU "Full-scale struggle to judge Yoon administration... Recognize us as dialogue partner"

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) has launched a full-scale struggle against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration following its withdrawal from the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), a tripartite dialogue body directly under the president. The FKTU has stated that it will not return to the ESLC unless it is recognized as a dialogue partner.

Amid the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (KCTU) declaring its withdrawal from the Economic, Social and Labor Council, Kim Dong-myeong, the chairman, is speaking at the KCTU official press conference held on the morning of the 8th in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The KCTU declared that it will launch a full-scale struggle to "judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th, Kim Dong-myeong, chairman of the FKTU, held a press conference in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office and said, "We will launch a full-scale judgment struggle against a regime that consistently oppresses workers with hostility," adding, "We will not beg the government, which does not recognize the labor community as a dialogue partner, for talks."

The FKTU held the 100th emergency central executive committee meeting the day before and decided not to participate in the ESLC. This decision was reportedly due to excessive suppression during the arrest of Kim Jun-young, secretary-general of the Metal Workers' Union, on the 31st of last month. The FKTU's non-participation in the tripartite dialogue body is the first in 7 years and 5 months since January 2016. At that time, the FKTU declared non-participation in the predecessor of the ESLC, the Tripartite Commission, in protest against the Park Geun-hye administration's employment flexibility policies.

Chairman Kim said, "Since dialogue has been completely halted, dialogue does not hold much meaning," and added, "Dialogue may be suspended or the FKTU may withdraw throughout the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." He also stated, "Simply apologizing and releasing Secretary-General Kim will not be a condition for returning," emphasizing, "Fundamentally, President Yoon must respect workers as dialogue partners."

Regarding the ruling party's speculation about replacing Kim Moon-soo, chairman of the ESLC, Chairman Kim said, "Replacing Chairman Kim Moon-soo will not have any impact on resuming dialogue."

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