South Korea
Naval clash between two Koreas as Obama heads to Asia
By John Chan, November 12, 2009
Just days before US President Barack Obama commences his first major visit to Asia, a brief exchange of fire took place between South and North Korean naval vessels.
South Korean government cracks down on workers’ rights
By Terry Cook, October 26, 2009
Following the suppression of the 77-day occupation of the Ssangyong Motor plant at Pyeongtaek in August, the government has broadened its offensive against the rights and conditions of the working cla...
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung dies
By John Chan, September 3, 2009
Behind the rhetoric about “democracy” and “peace”, Kim represented the interests of sections of the Korean bourgeoisie who had been marginalised under the US-backed military dictatorship.
South Korean government witch-hunts Ssangyong workers
By Terry Cook, August 24, 2009
Following the end of the 77-day occupation of Ssangyong Motor’s plant in Pyeongtaek, the government of President Lee Myung-bak is carrying out a police vendetta against the workers involved.
South Korea: The political lessons of the Ssangyong occupation
By James Cogan, August 18, 2009
The state crackdown on the Ssangyong occupation demonstrates that the defence of the basic right to a job is a revolutionary question.
Korean unions end Ssangyong occupation on company terms
By Terry Cook, August 7, 2009
The Korean Metal Workers Union called off the occupation at the Ssangyong Motor plant after striking a deal that accepts the mass lay-offs demanded by the management.
South Korea: Violent police operation mounted against Ssangyong auto occupation
By Patrick O’Connor, August 6, 2009
More than 4,000 South Korean riot police, backed by private security and nonunion company goons, have launched a violent assault on more than 500 auto workers at the Ssangyong factory in Pyeongtaek.
South Korean “non-regular” workers face mass job losses
By Ben McGrath, July 29, 2009
A parliamentary standoff over new laws making it easier to sack workers has highlighted the political instability produced in South Korea by the global economic crisis, with more than 300 “non-regul...
South Korea: Riot police sent to break Ssangyong occupation
By Terry Cook, July 27, 2009
Thousands of heavily-armed riot police have laid siege to Ssangyong Motor’s factory in Pyeongtaek where around 900 workers and supporters continue to occupy a major building.
Ssangyong occupation supporters speak to the WSWS
“If these workers fail, restructuring will become normal”
By a correspondent, July 16, 2009
A WSWS correspondent spoke to supporters outside South Korea’s Ssangyong Motor assembly plant, which workers have occupied for eight weeks.
South Korean government prepares to break Ssangyong occupation
By Terry Cook, July 16, 2009
Police moved in with forklifts to remove barriers outside Ssangyong Motor’s Pyeongtaek plant in preparation for a police assault to break the occupation.
South Korean government prepares new assault on Ssangyong occupation
By Terry Cook, July 11, 2009
Workers are continuing to occupy Ssangyong Motor’s assembly plant to fight mass sackings amid signs that the government is preparing another violent operation to storm the plant.
