Govenrment and Business Environment Case Study

Labour Unions in South Korea

OR

Abstract:
South Korea, under the authoritarian regime of Park Chung Hee, made amazing progress to become one of the powerful economies in the world. But the labour unions felt left out and oppressed during the regime. The transition to democracy resulted in powerful unions that frequently took to the streets to demonstrate their might. South Korean labour, which was once the engine of the economy, became a menace that endangered the economic progress.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss the finer points of the Korean economy and the role played by labour unions in Korea's claim to fame
• To discuss the growth of unionism under the authoritarian regime of Park Chung Hee and the eventual transition to democracy
• To discuss how the unions turned out to be a menace for the economy.

Keywords : Labour unions, Korean Council of Trade Union Representatives (KCTU), Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU),Government and Business Environment Case Study,Ulsan Typhoon, Chaebol, Organised labour, Layoffs, Coup d'etat, General Park Chung Hee, Hyundai, Reforms, Multiple unionism, Repressive rule,Business Environment Case Study, Transition