In September, the Korean Government Employees Union (KGEU) merged with two smaller unions, the Korean Democratic Government Employees Union and the Korean Court Workers Union, after direct ballots in the three unions. The government was not satisfied with neither the merger nor the decision of the newly merged union to affiliate with the Korean Trade Union Congress (KTUC). The Ministry of Public Administration and Security, the National Intelligence Service (MOPAS) and other groups attempted to stop the voting through directives banning all union activity during working hours in the days surrounding the ballot. MOPAS stated that it planned to severely discipline civil servants who ‘illegally’ took part in the vote and file complaints with the police and prosecutors.
As well, it threatened to punish civil servants en masse if public sector unions joined KCTU collective actions under the Civil Service Law. An emergency ministerial meeting publicly stated that the government would not permit unionists to use work time to carry out activities related to the vote and that the KCTU was engaged in a political activity and hence joining the union would be seen as a political and hence illegal act. To note, the Korean Government Employees’ Union (KGEU) has faced restrictions on its activities since it started.
