Labor group picks moderate leader

The nation`s second-largest umbrella labor union picked a moderate leader in a meeting of delegates on Thursday.

Kim Young-hoon, 42, former head of the Korea Railway Workers` Union, was elected to lead the hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which represents about 650,000 members nationwide. His tenure runs through 2013.

"I`ll make efforts to unify the organization and to reform its old way of operation. I`ll work to make a strong and winning KCTU," Kim said after the announcement of voting results.

Within the union, Kim is considered young and free from the influence of several rival factions. And that aspect appealed to many members who prefer to participate in social issues through conversation, not violent struggle.

It remains to be seen, however, if he will take a moderate line in labor movements, observers say.

Last year, labor and management disputes were caused over a revision to labor union law. Amid expectations of an economic recovery, experts say the disputes could be accelerated this year.



Representatives of labor, management and the government meet next month to discuss detailed regulations under the revised law. Whether the new leader of the KCTU, which has been opposed to the revision, will join the meeting is expected to be a signal of his future path, observers say.

Kim took the helm of the KCTU at a critical time for the group which has been dealt blows in recent years. The Lee Myung-bak administration has responded firmly to the group`s sometimes violent campaigns. And its image has been seriously tarnished since a series of scandals including sexual abuse and bribery.

"With the election of a moderate leader, it is unlikely that the current labor-management relations will worsen. However, the young leader needs to solve conflict within the organization in order to exercise his leadership right," said a labor official.

During his election campaign, Kim pledged to nullify the revision law on multiple-unions and full-time union officials, and to help ensure pro-labor political parties win local elections in June and the presidential election in 2012.

Kim, who also served as the chairman of the Korean Transport Workers` Union, had been arrested in 2006 after a general strike of the railway workers` union. He is currently working as a train driver in Busan.

Out of the total 951 representatives registered, 723 participated in the vote on Thursday. Kim took 52 percent of the votes, while his rival Heo Young-koo, former vice chairman of the KCTU, garnered only 38 percent.

(jylee@heraldm.com)



By Lee Ji-yoon