In the early morning of 17 March 2016, 41-year-old Han Kwang-ho, a worker at Yoosung Enterprise, took his own life. Han, an elected union official for the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU), had suffered five years of intimidation, repression and attacks in retaliation for his trade union activities at YooSung Enterprise, a key supplier for Hyundai Motor Company.
In January 2016, evidence revealed that Hyundai had conspired with YooSung Enterprise and labour management-consulting firm, Changjo, to crush the union at the factory. Their extensive and aggressive anti-union campaign began in 2011 when the union requested an end to 12-hour shifts. They initiated the aptly-named “Living Hell Project” to completely disable the union, established a scab union, and constantly abuse the workers with physical violence and swearing.
Just days before he took his own life, Han received yet another summons for questioning from YooSung before a disciplinary committee. It was just one of the many ways the company retaliated against his legitimate trade union activities at the plant. Between July and December 2013, YooSung filed 11 charges against Han with the police. When he killed himself, two bogus criminal charges against him were still pending.