Labor Power in South Korea

Korea’s first woman President, Park Geon-Hye, was very harsh on labour; workers resisted fiercely. After her impeachment for corruption, a special election installed a more liberal President who made promises to labour. Three women organizers tell what were the points of contention, how labour won the change, and how although skeptical they are working to get the promises kept. As of July 2017, workers are continuing strikes and rallies to get President Moon to fulfill his promises.

Speakers:

Wol-san Liem is International Officer of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers Union; Jeong-ok Hong is a medical practitioner with the NGO SHARPS – Supporters for the Health and Rights of People in the Semiconductor Industry; Mikyung Ryu is the International Officer for the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, the peak militant labour union federation in South Korea.

Credits:

Based on the 2-part series Workers’ Struggle in South Korea, produced by Jiselle Hanna; first released in May 2017 in the program Accent of Women, produced at 3CR Community Radio, Melbourne. Edited for WINGS by Mindy Ran. WINGS series producer, Frieda Werden.


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