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S. Korea's ruling party apologizes, but refuses to repeal labor law
Small clash breaks out near cathedral
January 16, 1997
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT)From Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-Ae
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Despite the extension of a small olive branch from the government, another day of labor unrest ensued Thursday in South Korea, and international labor unions made plans to send more observers to the country.
Union workers continued to hold rallies in central Seoul calling for the repeal of a new labor law railroaded through parliament last month.
They were not placated by an apology Thursday from the head of the ruling party, though it was a marked step back from President Kim Young Sam's hard-line stance.
"It is very regrettable that the revision of the law was not smooth ... for which I am very sorry," said Lee Hong-Koo Lee, the head of the New Korea Party.
Lee ruled out revising the law right now, saying it could be changed later if problems arise in implementing it.
The controversial measure was rammed through the national assembly last month in a secret pre-dawn meeting. It makes it easier for companies to lay off workers and hire replacements for strikers.
Meanwhile, a new 10-member team headed by a representative of the Brussels-based International Confederation of Free Trade Unions will be sent to observe the strikes, replacing four senior union officials who were forced by authorities to leave Seoul Thursday morning.
"The intention is to maintain an international trade union presence in Seoul at a level high enough to show the South Korea authorities this is not going to go away," a trade union spokesman said.
Union leaders not soothed
Despite Lee's attempt to quell workers' fears, small clashes broke out between egg-throwing protesters and large groups of riot police near Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral.
The clashes erupted after authorities seized three more union leaders in a crackdown on strikes.
Labor leaders, who have been holed up inside the church for three weeks, said the ruling party's words meant nothing.
Kwon Young-Kil, the head of the outlawed Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, also repeated his threat to call an all-out strike if the leaders are arrested.
His group said 269,000 workers were already on strike, but the Labor Ministry said the figure was only 81,500.
Though police are closely guarding the church area, union members also are guarding the church entrance to prevent any surprise police raid. Kwon says such physical force is not what will prevent his arrest.
"It's the public support of us, and the great public desire for democracy, that is keeping us safe," he said.
State prosecutors have said the arrest of the union leaders camped out at Myongdong Cathedral is just a matter of timing.
But many observers say the labor movement has already become too widespread to be stopped with just a few arrests.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Striking workers, police clash in Seoul - January 15, 1997
- S. Korea's 'largest strike in history' fizzles - January 14, 1997
- S. Korea workers, police clash outside cathedral - January 12, 1997
- S. Korea police to arrest leaders of crippling strike - January 10, 1997
- Korea clamps down on strikers - January 9, 1997
- S. Korean strikers plan partial resumption of work - January 8, 1997
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