Labor Union’s Dominant Influence at Recruiting

On January 20, it was confirmed that there was a structural corruption when Kia Motors Gwangju factory hires production contract workers; The factory assigned some number of recruitment to labor union and the union’s executives received honorarium for the recruitment.

Accordingly, the Gwangju District Prosecutors Office believes there is a high possibility that this is a large-scale recruitment corruption case between the corporation and labor unions involved and has started a full investigation with an exclusive investigation squad consisting of six public prosecutors and 12 investigators.

On the afternoon of this day, prosecutors seized and searched the personnel, labor, and general affairs office of the Kia Motors Gwangju factory located in Naebang-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, and confiscated documents such as last year’s employment documents.

It is believed that such employment corruptions exist at business establishments other than the Gwangju factory such as the Gyeonggi Hwaseong (Hwaseong City) and Sohari (Gwangmyoung City) factories, and there are plans to execute thorough inspections at these establishments as well.

Concerning such employment corruption, former chief of Gwangju factory who was replaced recently, Mr. Kim (56) admitted, “For smooth labor-management relations, labor unions have recommended workers at the time of employment,” and added, “However, I did not realize that money was transferred in the process.”

Critics point out that Kia Motors has aided and tolerated the labor union’s interference in personnel by placing a “recommender” blank in the employment application form for years.

An executive of Hyundai and Kia Motors group said, “Due to repeated reports of recruitment of inadequate laborers within the firm, we conducted a special investigation last November at the Gwangju factory,” and, “The resignation of former president Yoon Gook-jin was on account of employment corruption.”