Government Employees’ Union Flout the Law on Their Political Neutrality

Plans by the Korea Government Employees Union (KGEU) to decide whether to express support for the Korea Democratic Labor Party (KDLP) at a delegate meeting which began on March 23 are causing controversy. Once a KGEU resolution is adopted in support of the KDLP, it will send shockwaves through the country as the law bans civil servants from expressing support for a party or a political candidate.

Politicizing Labor Unions—

The KGEU started a meeting of 400 shop stewards on March 23 in the city of Cheongju to mark the second anniversary of its launch.

One of the items on the agenda is whether to adopt a resolution in support of the KDLP during the April National Assembly elections. Earlier, on March 16, a central committee meeting decided to adopt the resolution.

However, the adoption does not appear to be easy as there is strong consensus that it is premature to adopt such a resolution.

“Open support for a party will backfire because of public political sentiments,” said delegates who oppose the resolution.

“The law on the political neutrality of civil servants is an evil law because it is in breach of the people’s basic rights,” said the KGEU leadership and the proponents of the resolution.

An eclectically-worded adoption may be adopted in which the union expresses support for a progressive party without mentioning the name of the party.

Even such a resolution will also be controversial because the Korea Teachers Union (KTU) will join KGEU’s move.

The KGEU central committee has decided to launch a political committee, raising concern that the union will be politicized.

The political committee will encourage government employees’ participation in general elections and seek solidarity work with progressive parties and other pro-democracy groups. It will also play a vital role in a movement aimed at repealing the law banning civil servants’ political activities.

Formed on March 23, 2002, the KGEU is the country’s largest government employees’ organization with 13,000 members from among category 6 civil and lower. However, it is an unofficial union.

Wait and See—

The National Election Commission sent an official admonition in writing to the labor union on March 23. “Civil servants must not take action individually or collectively to affect the elections,” the elections watchdog said. “We urge you to refrain yourselves from contravening the law.”

The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) said in a statement that it would sternly respond to a series of anti-impeachment statements made by the Presidential Truth Commission on Questionable Deaths and the announcement of support for a political party made by other government and civil servants’ organization as they violated the law.

“Probes by the Bureau of Audit and Inspection are currently underway into the presidential commission. We’ll decide the level of discipline after the investigations,” MOGAHA Vice Minister Kim Joo-hyun said. Regarding the possible KGEU resolution, he said, “These public servants will be disciplined at the government organizations to which they belong. Whether or not to discipline the teachers depends on how the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development decides.”

Jae-Myoung Lee egija@donga.com