The South Korean government warned government employees labor unions of consequences for joining the Korean Confederation Trade Union (KCTU), the country’s largest umbrella union, by saying, “If the government employees labor union decides to engage in a political struggle, we will be unyielding.” However, the labor unions have defied the government and are saying, “The government’s attempt to control our actions is anachronistic.”

The Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Dal-gon stated in a joint statement with the Minster of Justice Kim Kyung-han and the Minister of Labor Lee Young-hee released on Wed., “We regret that the government employees labor union have decided to join the KCTU, which is persisting to engage in a political struggle.” He also said, “It is inappropriate for a government employee’s labor union that are expected to maintain political neutrality to join the KCTU.” He continued, “If the unions engage in a political struggle in alliance with the KCTU, the government will have not choice but to deliver punishment according to related laws.”

Minister Lee warned that the South Korean government will be investigating and punishing unlawful and unfair acts related to the union’s vote to merge the three government employee labor unions together and vote to joint the KCTU. The three unions are the Korean Government Employee Union (KGEU), Korean Democracy Government Employee’s Union (KDGEU) and the Court Government Employees’ Union (CGEU).

The KCTU issued a statement in response that said, “The government attitude to incapacitate labor unions was an anachronism." The KCTU also said, “Forming a union and deciding to be affiliated with an umbrella union is a workers’ right guaranteed by the Constitution.” Lee Soo-Bong, the spokesman of KCTU said, “The government is attempting to prevent government employees from joining the KCTU by insisting on their political neutrality.” Lee added, “Nonetheless, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union, also a government employee’s labor union, joined the KCTU and it has not been found in violation.” Chung Seung-hee, the deputy spokesman of the Federation of Korean Trade Union, South Korea’s other large umbrella union, said, “It is appropriate for the government employees union members to vote on affiliated with an umbrella union, and the government is worsening labor and government relations by overacting.”

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