Union Boss Got 200M Won Bribe

On January 16, the Ulsan Prosecutors’ Office requested an arrest warrant for Lee Heon-koo (47), the former chief of the Hyundai Motor labor union, on charges of receiving 200 million won from the company over the course of collective bargaining on wages. Reportedly, the prosecution is also investigating the Kia Motors labor union, whose senior members got tens of millions of won from the company.

Last April while investigating the source of a 130 billion won slush found raised by Hyundai and Kia, the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office stumbled upon a clue that senior union members of both Hyundai and Kia received bribes. And the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office asked Ulsan Prosecutors’ Office to look into the case.

Lee denied all charges and a warrant examination against Lee is scheduled on January 17 at Ulsan district court.

According to the prosecutors, in a Buddhist temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Lee, then Union chief for Hyundai, received 200 million won in late July 2003 from Vice chairman Kim Dong-jin. (Then president of the company) Kim gave Lee the money in an effort to end a strike early.

Kim is accused of offering a bribe but a 3-year statute of limitation expired last July, sparing him punishment.

Back then a collective negotiation for wage increase between the company and the union failed and the union began striking from June 25. However, the union ended the strike on August 5; 7 days after Kim took the bribe. The current union chief Park Yoo-kee was the chief clerk of the union.

On January 16, judge Kin Jin-young of Ulsan district court issued a summons to appear in court for Park and his deputy Ahn Hyun-ho, for whom arrest warrants had already been requested. Apparently, the judge thought the two, who were accused of blocking the opening ceremony for the year, are unlikely to appear in court for warrant examination.

The court has also requested arrest warrants for 2 senior union members.

Given that the company and the union are holding working-level negotiations, it is likely that the two sides will reach an agreement soon.

On January 16 the two agreed to have a dialogue to seek ways to meet halfway for the first time since talks collapsed over year-end bonuses.

Regardless of the planned talks, the Union has decided to stage a “partial strike” on January 17 anyway: the night shift and day shift of the union will go on a strike for six hours, respectively.

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