KCTU Background:  Korean Labor Union Pursues North Korea’s Anti-U.S., Anti-ROK, Anti-Japan Positions; Calls to Abolish the National Security Act; Coordinates with North Korea

2022-12-7, Tara O

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) (전국민주노동조합총연맹) abbreviated as MinNoChong (민노총) pursues demands that are anti-U.S., anti-Japan, and pro-North Korea.  KCTU works with North Korea to pursue North Korea’s agenda, which includes demanding the stopping of the Republic of Korea (ROK)-U.S. combined military exercises, the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Korea, and the abolition of the National Security Act.

KCTU demands abolishing the National Security Act

The latest example is KCTU issuing a statement on December 1, 2022 demanding the National Security Act be abolished, which is North Korea’s position, and unrelated to labor issues. (2:11).  The title of the statement is “Let’s now put the National Security Act, which is still raging and rampant, in a coffin and bury it in the ground.” (아직도 활개 치며 위세를 떨치고 있는 국가보안법, 이제는 관에 넣어 땅속에 묻자) .  KCTU claimed that “it defines North (North Korea) as an ‘anti-state group,’ hindering North-South reconciliation and unity.”

The National Security Act became law on December 1, 1948.  The Freedom Coalition For Defending National Security Act issued a statement on June 3, 2021, which states:

“The National Security Act is a statute, which restricts any anti-state activities threatening national security, to ensure the safety of the Republic of Korea and the survival and freedom of Korean citizens.”

“DPRK and National Security Act abolitionists distort and instigate to present a false narrative that the National Security Act is an unjust, anti-unification law by oppressing freedom of speech and thought.  Our Constitution guarantees a wide range of freedom of speech and thought, but it does not cover activities that deny and destroy our state, which is based on liberal democracy. Moreover, the purpose of the National Security Act is ultimately to promote the free-democratic unification of Korea by preventing espionage activities by North Korean agents and those wanting to harm the national security of the ROK.”

Lawyer Koh Young-ju, former national security prosecutor, put it more succinctly:  “Without the National Security Act, there is no other way to catch North Korean agents/spies.”

KCTU’s anti-U.S., anti-Japan, anti-THAAD, anti-military exercise demonstrations

KCTU routinely schedules strikes and demonstrations, and calls for stopping the Republic of Korea (ROK)-U.S. combined military exercises, the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Korea, and ending the ROK-U.S. alliance—all positions of North Korea’s Kim regime. It also conducts anti-Japan demonstrations.

An example is KCTU’s activities in August 2022.  KCTU, through its Unification Committee (통일위원회), organized so-called Tong-il SunBongDae  (통일선봉대) (Unification Vanguard) and began touring and demonstrating throughout Korea, demanding the cessation of the ROK-U.S. combined military exercises as well as the dissolution of the alliance.

Starting August 6, 2022, KCTU’s Unification Vanguard held demonstrations around the country, including near the U.S. military bases and related facilities in Pyongtaek, Kunsan, and Busan, the Japanese Consular office in Busan, and the THAAD (Theater High Altitude Air Defense) base in Seongju. It also seized the U.S.-ROK Combined Amphibious Exercise (SsangYong) command post in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.  KCTU’s activities culminated in a large-scale anti-U.S. and anti-alliance rally in Seoul on August 13, 2022. 

These activities beg some very basic questions.  Why would a labor union, which is supposed to  address domestic labor issues, have a unification committee focused on North Korea? Why would a labor union want to weaken and destroy the national security of its own country?

Unification Vanguard (Tong-il SunBongDae)

The “Unification Vanguard” was originally run by pro-North Korea university student organizations, such as the BumChongHakRyon (범청학련) (Pan-National Youth Students Union for the Unification of the Motherland) and HanChongRyon / HanChongNyon (한총련) (Confederation of Korean Students’ Union), which the court ruled to be organizations that are “ijeok” or “aiding & abetting the enemy.”  HanChongRyon, like its predecessor Jeondaehyup / Chondaehyup, adheres to North Korea’s positions on North Korea-led unification, and it seeks to overthrow the ROK’s political, economic, and social system using various methods, including violence. HanChongRyon is the southern branch of  MinChongHakRyun (민청학련), which is designated as an “ijeok” organization after its members tried to overthrow the ROK government and establish a communist government in 1974.  Since 2000, KCTU’s Unification Committee has been operating the Unification Vanguard.

“Solidarity Statement” from North Korea to KCTU

It is interesting that a labor union in South Korea prominently displayed a letter from North Korea that shows, at minimum, their coordination on activities that are against the national interest of the Republic of Korea.  The post-dated letter also indicates there were communications between KCTU and North Korea on August 11 and earlier, at least.

Earlier on August 11, 2022, KCTU’s Unification Committee posted a “8.15 Solidarity Statement of the National Workers’ Congress,” which consists of a letter and a joint resolution sent by North Korea.  The joint resolution, dated August 13, 2022, was made by three North Korean organizations:  the Central Committee of the General Federation of Korean Occupations (조선직업총동맹 중앙위원회), National Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions (전국민주로총조합총련맹), and Korean Federation of Korean Labor Unions (한국로총조합총련맹).  

The cover letter, also dated August 13, 2022, was drafted by the Central Committee of the General Federation of Korean Occupations.  (Note:  The letter and the resolution were post-dated, as they were already posted on KCTU’s website 2 days prior on August 11, 2022.)  The fact that this letter was posted in the middle of the protests suggests a high degree of coordination between the KCTU and these North Korean organizations before the protests began in order to be able to release a statement of solidarity.  It is unlikely these North Korean labor organizations could release a statement without the full oversight and approval of the Kim regime.

The letter was titled “With the strong spirit and determination of the workers, let’s stop the indiscriminate war frenzy of the United States and its followers” (로동자의 억센 기상과 투지로 미국과 그 추종세력의 무분별한 전쟁대결광란을 저지파탄시키자).

The North Korean organizations held conferences, in which the KCTU members participated, which resulted in a joint resolution.  The letter begins:

“The Central Committee of the General Federation of Korean Occupations expressed its strong desire and determination for peace (pyonghwa) and independent (jaju) unification (tong-il), sends greetings of solidarity to all the KCTU members who attended the “3 North-South Workers’ Organizations’ Congress on the Resolutions of No ROK-US Joint Military Exercises! No Korea-U.S.-Japan Military Cooperation! and Minjok’s Independence, Peace, and Great Unity” (한미련합군사연습 반대! 한미일군사협력 반대! 민족의 자주, 평화, 대단결을 위한 북남로동자 3단체 결의대회) followed by “15 August National Workers’ Congress (8.15전국로동자대회).”

It should be noted that the use of “minjok,” “peace,” “independence,” and “great unity” are part of North Korea’s Terminology Confusion Tactics, which have different meanings than what most people understand them to be.  The dictionary definition of “minjok” is “nation” or “people,” but here, it indicates “Koreans,” more specifically, Koreans who are not pro-U.S., pro-Japan, pro-liberal democracy, anti-communism, etc.  In North Korea, “minjok” implies those who adheres to Kim Il-sungism.  “Peace” means the end of combined military exercises, “independence” means no U.S., and Great Unity of Minjok is part North Korea’s Three Charters for Motherland Unification to mean the abolition of South Korea’s National Security Act.[1]

North Korea expressed “encouragement” for KCTU’s Unification Vanguard for its anti-U.S., anti-Japan activities:

“In addition, we would like to take this opportunity to express our warm encouragement to the members of your organization’s Unification Vanguard (통일선봉대), who have vigorously carried out the “Workers’ Unification Vanguard” activities to stop the war confrontation maneuvers of domestic and foreign anti-reunification forces, together with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU, 한국로총).

It further stated,

“Members of your organization’s Unification Vanguard and other members traveled throughout the south (남녘), and the powerful shouts of “This land is not a war base for the United States!”, “No to weapons of war!”, and “No to ROK-US joint military exercises!” vigorously inspired us from all walks of life to the anti-U.S. and anti-war struggle.”

Note:  North Korea used “Namnyeok” (남녘), which means “south” or “southern side,” when referring to South Korea.

The letter was followed by the joint resolution (“Solidarity Statement”) titled “Joint Resolution of the Congress on the Resolutions of No ROK-U.S. Joint Military Exercises! No Korea-U.S.-Japan Military Cooperation! and Minjok’s Independence, Peace, and Great Unity.”

KCTU Donates to Marxism Forum held annually at Koryo University, Seoul

Since 2000, Marxism Forum has been held annually at Koryo University to promote Marxism.  KCTU, its member labor unions, and its affiliates have repeatedly donated to the Marxism Forum. 

Workers’ Solidarity, the organizer of the annual Marxism Forum, seeks to destroy capitalism and establish socialism.  Workers’ Solidarity describes itself as” a group of workers’ movements that seeks to abolish capitalism, which sacrifices the lives of workers and people for profit, and to build a socialist society.”

KCTU, Seoul Headquarters also sent a message, congratulating the Marxism event and its “progressive agendas” and stated it will “firmly stand in solidarity with the comrades of the Workers’ Solidarity… (to) struggle for a new world of workers’ liberation.”

In August 2021, KCTU demanded the nationalization of 50% of key industries and housing in South Korea, which is in line with its “struggle for a new world” of socialist society.  A key feature of socialism is no private ownership of property; rather the state would take ownership of property formerly owned by individuals and private entities.

Seoul City Pays KCTU’s Building, Remodeling, and Building Operations

KCTU is wealthy, with 1.1 million members paying labor union dues.  It is not a government organization. The City of Seoul, however, has been paying for KCTU’s headquarters in Seoul.  The city, and thus the Seoul tax payers, has also been paying for remodeling and building maintenance and management.  This year, Seoul City is paying ₩640,850,000 ($500,000) for the building maintenance, utilities, and management fees, including the salaries of 6 employees, selected by KCTU. 

Since 2002, the City of Seoul has handed over operations of the Gangbuk (North of the Han River) Workers’ Welfare Center project to KCTU and allowed KCTU to use the building free of charge.  KCTU has used these buildings as headquarters offices for KCTU and its member unions.  The headquarters has been moved to various locations in Seoul, getting larger each time:   Jangchung-dong in Jung-gu (483㎡) in 2002, Yegwan-dong in Jung-gu (747㎡) in 2005, Chungjeong-ro 2-ga in Seodaemun-gu (1,200㎡) in 2008, and Nokbun-dong in Eunpyeong-gu (1,857㎡) at the end of 2011.

The most recent one is a remodeled 6-story building, which used to house Western Water Works, a city government entity, in Mapo-gu, Seoul.  It is purported to be “Workers’ Welfare Center” that cost  ₩7,200,000,000 ($5.6 million) to remodel.  It was occupied by the Seoul headquarters offices of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, Democratic General League, Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union, Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions, and Korea Finance & Service Workers’ Union, as well as KCTU’s affiliates, such as Deobureo Saneun Himang Yeondae Nodong Johap (더불어사는희망연대노동조합) [literally translated as “with living hope league workers’ union”]. 

KCTU and its member labor unions

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has 1.1 million members.  Its member labor unions are: 

• Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (전국교직원노동조합) (JeonGyoJo),  
• National Union of Media Workers (전국언론노동조합)
• Korean Federation of Public & Social Services and Transportation Workers’ Union (전국공공운수사회서비스노조)
• Korean Metal Workers’ Union (전국금속노동조합)
• Korean Health & Medical Workers Union (전국보건의료산업노동조합)
• Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions (전국건설산업노동조합연맹)
• National Plant Construction Union (민주노총 건설산업연맹 전국건설노동조합) under Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions
• Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (전국공공운수사회서비스노조) (공공운수노조)
• Korean Professor Union (전국교수노동조합)
• Korean University Workers’ Union (전국대학노동조합)
• Democratic Women’s Union (민주여성노조)
• National Federation of Democratic General Trade Unions (전국민주일반노조연맹) / Democratic General League (민주일반연맹)
• Korean Irregular Professor Union (한국비정규교수노동조합) (한교조)  
• Korea Finance & Service Workers’ Union (전국사무금융노동조합연맹 / 전국사무금융서비스노동조합)
• Korean Federation of Service Workers’ Union (전국서비스산업노동조합연맹) 
• Korean Federation of Information Economy Service Workers’ Union (전국정보경제서비스노동조합 ) 
• (전국화학섬유식품산업노동조합) 
• Korean Government Employees’ Union (전국공무원노동조합)
• Migrants’ Trade Union (이주노동자노동조합)

(Note:  Names of these organizations sometimes change.)

Conclusion

KCTU is wealthy and well-organized, and is a powerful force in South Korea.  It has 1.1 million members, gaining about 300,000 during the KCTU-friendly Moon Jae-in administration.  Its leadership works closely with North Korea, follows the North Korean party line, and works against South Korean national interest—acts that aid and abet an enemy, which is illegal in South Korea.  Ironically, the City of Seoul has been supporting KCTU by paying for the offices of KCTU and its member labor unions.  It would seem more logical that, instead of subsidies, KCTU should be investigated under the National Security Act, the very law the KCTU and North Korea want abolished.

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[1] O, Tara.  “North Korea’s Plan for Unification by Federation:  What It Really Means” in International Journal of Korean Studies, Vol XXIV, No. 1 (Spring/Summer 2022), 25-27.