Union leader released from jail

ALU welcomes the release of Dan Byung-ho from prison
Dan, president of the independent national union centre the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), was sentenced to two years’ jail on 18 March 2002 under laws that violate international labour standards (see ALU 42 Regional Roundup), including the vague charge, ‘obstruction to business’, that the authorities regularly abuse to imprison labour activists.

Dan’s ‘crime’ was to take responsibility for organising a general strike in Korea.
The sentence was denounced by trade unionists all over the world as completely ignoring International Labour Organisation convention Nos 87 and 98 on freedom of association, collective bargaining, and by association, striking.

We congratulate Dan for not having to serve the full sentence. We also congratulate the authorities for making this decision, and hope that they will extend such decisions to dozens of other trade unionists in Korea whose crimes are representing and fighting for their union members.