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[[File:The 124th Nodongjeol in Ulsan.jpg|thumb|[[International Workers' Day]] 2014 at [[Taehwagang station]], Ulsan]]
The '''labor movement of South Korea''' includes multiple labor movements and organizations that advocate for the rights and well-being of workers. Organizations have emerged with differing political ideologies and methods on how to achieve their goals. South Korean organized labor is also active in other movements, allowing for solidarity between organizations.<ref name=":1" /> The movement originated in the 19th century while under [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]] as a way to organize workers.<ref name=":3">((cite journal|last1=Seung-ho|first1=Kwon|last2=Leggett|first2=Chris|date=10 May 2017|title=Origins of the Korean Labour Movement|journal=Policy, Organisation and Society|volume=10|issue=1|pages=3–26|doi=10.1080/10349952.1995.11876634|doi-access=free))</ref>

Later, the movement developed alongside the growing [[working class]].<ref name=":4">((cite journal|last1=Sonn|first1=Hochul|date=8 July 1997|title=The "Late Blooming" of the South Korean Labor Movement|journal=Monthly Review|volume=49|issue=3|pages=117|doi=10.14452/mr-049-03-1997-07_8))</ref>  The movement employs a variety of methods as a means to bargain. Since its inception, multiple unions have been created to advocate for workers.

== Origins ==
The first labor union was established under colonial Japanese rule in 1910. Named the Seongjin Stevedores Union, it consisted of 47 workers.<ref name=":3" /> During this time period, unions were limited in their scope as they were small in size and membership.<ref name=":3" /> Due to this, unions were limited to occupational and regional-based unions.<ref name=":3" /> It was during this time that the labor movement divided into two differing ideologies: pro-Korean Identity and pro-Japanese Identity.<ref name=":3" /> As opposed to spontaneous revolts, the labor movement was able to organize regional strikes at this time.<ref name=":3" />

== History ==
=== Post 1945 ===
[[File:Inaugural Meeting of National Council of Trade Unions of Korea.jpg|thumb|Inaugural meeting of the Council of Trade Unions]]
In November 1945, socialists formed the [[General Council of Korea Trade Unions]] (GCKTU).<ref name=":3" /> Initial membership for the GCKTU was 180,000 workers and eventually grew to 553,408 members within two months.<ref name=":3" /> During August 1945 and February 1948, the GCKTU held over 3000 strikes which resulted in the deaths of 25 people and imprisonment of 11,000.<ref name=":3" /> The fallout from the strikes led to the creation of a labor department created by the American military, which restricted union political activity.<ref name=":3" />

To protest this restriction, the GCKTU called for renewed strikes known as the September National Strikes but failed to achieve anything significant, which led to the GCKTU being banned.<ref name=":3" /> In an effort to oppose the GCKTU, a [[right-wing]] trade union known as Daehan Dogrib Chockseong Nodong Chongyeonmyeng or the General Federation of Korean Trade Unions (GFKTU) was formed in March 1946.<ref name=":3" /> The ban of the GCKTU led to the GFKTU to become the sole representative of Korean trade unions.<ref name=":3" /> The GFKTU was later named to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU).<ref name=":3" />

=== Federation of Korean Trade Unions ===
The FKTU or [[Federation of Korean Trade Unions]] was formed in March 1946 as an effort to oppose the left-leaning GCKTU.<ref name=":2">((cite journal|last1=Lim|first1=Ki Yop|date=1979|title=The Origin and Development of the Korean Labor Movement|journal=Labor Economics|volume=3|issn=1229-6651))</ref> The formation of the FKTU had two goals, to support the conservative government and to oppose left-leaning labor movements.<ref name=":2" /> The FKTU opposed many of the strikes the GCKTU conducted by attributing them as a means to gain political power.<ref name=":2" /> When the GCKTU was banned, the FKTU was the sole trade union, it represented South Korea in International Confederation of Free trade Unions in December 1949.<ref name=":2" />

In 1952, President [[Syngman Rhee]] took control of the union and incorporated into the Liberal Party.<ref name=":2" /> In 1953 the Labor Standards Act, the Labor Union Act and the Labor disputes adjustment act were passed by the government.<ref name=":2" /> The Labor Standards Act guaranteed an eight-hour workday.<ref name=":1" />  In April 1960, President Syngman Rhee was removed from his position by the student movement which led to the FKTU dissolve all ties with the Labor Party.<ref name=":2" /> In April 1971, the FKTU established the Committee on Political Education (COPE) as a way to educated members on political issues and help political campaigns that supported workers' rights.<ref name=":2" />

=== Jeon Tae-il  ===
[[Jeon Tae-il]] was an activist who was most known for his act of martyrdom. Jeon formed a group known as the "Fool's Organization" as a means to fight for the better treatment of workers.<ref name=":1">((cite book |last1=Katsiaficas |first1=George |author-link=George Katsiaficas |title=South Korean social movements in the 20th century |publisher=PM Press |isbn=978-1-60486-457-1 |pages=146–368))</ref> They reported problems such as illegal working conditions or other offenses that violated the Labor Standards Act to government officials .<ref name=":1" /> Spurred by the ineffectiveness of the government to improve working conditions, Jeon Tae-il committed suicide by lighting himself on fire as a means of protest.<ref name=":1"/> Chun's actions inspired others to do the same.<ref name=":1" />

=== Gwangju Uprising  ===
The [[Gwangju Uprising]] served as the first step towards democracy in South Korea .<ref name=":1"/>

The Gwangju Uprising refers to the events that took place in May 1980. Although the movement was conceived by students, overtime the working class made up a bulk of the participants. The events of this uprising led to the deaths of at least 164 people.<ref name=":1" /> Statistics for this event can vary from sources due to alleged coverups, where bodies were burned or dumped into the ocean and unmarked graves.<ref name=":1" />

On May 14, 1980, a student demonstration involving over 70,000 people sought to express their grievances against the authoritarian government.<ref name=":1" />  On May 17, the government arrested the leaders of the student movement as a way to stop the movement.<ref name=":1" /> On May 18, paratroopers were sent to confront the protesters and escalated the situation.<ref name=":1" /> What resulted was a massive slaughter of citizens which united “workers, farmers, students, and people from all walks of life” to oppose the government.<ref name=":1" /> On May 27, 1980, the uprising was put down.<ref name=":1" />

=== June Struggle ===
[[File:Protest at Daewoo Apparel 1985-06-26.png|thumb|Protests at [[Daewoo]] Apparel at the Seoul Industrial Complex, [[Guro District, Seoul|Guro District]], 1985]]
The [[June Struggle]], also known as the Democratization Movement for 19 days in multiple cities were protesting for democracy.<ref name=":1" /> The Gwangju Uprising paved the way for student and worker solidarity which were instrumental for a democratic transition.<ref name=":1" /> A large number of people were arrested during the struggle, most of whom were laborers.<ref name=":1" /> In efforts to avoid another uprising, the government allowed for elections and democratic reforms.<ref name=":1" />

=== Great Worker Struggle ===
During the democratization transition of Korea, In July and August 1987 over three million workers, inspired by the June struggle, led to an uprising of workers demanding for better wages, better working condition, and autonomous trade unions.<ref name=":1" /> Autonomous trade unions were an important goal as “no legal independent unions existed” as the FKTU was “loyal to the government”.<ref name=":1" /> The Great Worker Struggle failed to achieve much as it coincide with the democratization event.<ref name=":1" />

===  Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)  ===
On November 13, 1994 the groundwork for a new union to oppose the FKTU was created .<ref name=":5">((cite web|url=http://www.kctu.org/kctu|title=This is KCTU|website=www.kctu.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126175402/http://nodong.org/about |archive-date=26 January 2023))</ref> Inspired by the Great Worker Struggle leaders of this union adopted the strategy of militant unionism as a way or bargaining.<ref name=":3" /> In order to be more effective regional cooperation with other unions was key in creating a new union, what followed was the formation of the Council of National Democratic Unions .<ref name=":4" />

In 1995, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) emerged from the council.<ref name=":4" /> The KCTU represented the: automobile industry, shipbuilding industry, heavy industries, public transport sector, and white collar workers .<ref name=":4" /> In 1997 launched its first strike in order to protest the passage of the bills that limited workers' rights. Later the KCTU was able to negotiate for its semi-legal status.<ref name=":1" />

=== General Strike of 1997  ===
((main article|1996–1997 strikes in South Korea))
In December 1996, the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]] attempted to pass two laws that would limit workers' rights. These laws would have made it easier for the firing of workers and allowed the use of [[strikebreaker]]s.<ref name=":1" /> In response to this workers responded ''en masse'' by walking off their jobs.<ref name=":1" /> By the third day the walk-off amounted to 350,00 workers and stopped most of Korea's industrial production .<ref name=":1" /> On January 3, FKTU leaders met with KCTU leaders to create a united front.<ref name=":1" /> On January 15, the number of people who walked out of the jobs peaked at one million workers .<ref name=":1" /> On January 16 the government conceded and affirmed the bills would be sent back for revision .<ref name=":1" /> In March the laws were revised and the KCTU achieved semi-legal status.<ref name=":1" />

== Methods ==
The South Korean labor movement has historically employed a variety of methods in order to negotiate. These included strikes, protests, [[Hunger strike|hunger protests]], [[Self-immolation|self immolation]], violence, kidnapping, and the occupation of buildings.<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
* [[Trade unions in South Korea]]
* [[Women in unions in South Korea]]
* [[Korean Confederation of Trade Unions]]
* [[Federation of Korean Trade Unions]]
* [[Working hours in South Korea]]

== References ==
((Reflist))

[[Category:Labor history]]
[[Category:Labor in South Korea]]
[[Category:Labour movement in South Korea]]
[[Category:Political movements in South Korea]]

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