►► Union leaders Seung-chul Kim, Myoung hwan Kim and Sang Moo Lee at a press conference today before the “surrender” to police ◀◀
Trade union leaders who led a 23-day strike in December against railway privatisation in South Korea were under arrest today.
Thirteen officials in Seoul “surrendered” after police moved in to break up a rally outside the headquarters of the union confederation – the equivalent of Britain’s TUC.
The president of the Korean Railway Workers Union, Myoung hwan Kim, insisted the strike was carried out in accordance with the law.
He said: “This will be proven in court in due course.”
He added: “By far, the most important thing gained through this struggle was the consensus achieved among the Korean people that the railway must never be privatised.”
The International Transport Workers’ Federation condemned the “political vendetta” against the South Korean rail union.
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: “KRWU members voted openly and democratically to strike to protect Korean Railways against potentially disastrous privatisation.”
The strike ended with an agreement with the National Assembly to establish a committee to find a future plan “through debate and dialogue”.
In a message to the South Korean public, Myoung hwan Kim said: “The railway belongs to the people; it is the feet of common people. Please maintain your interest in and affection for the railway and pay attention to what developments take place.
“And please remember that the struggle against rail privatisation has not ended. Railway workers will continue to play our role as the protectors of social solidarity and the public rail.”
Information from International Transport Workers’ Federation. ITF