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Last week(9.25) Yonhap reported following:

The labor union of Korea's largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Co., elected today Lee Kyung-hun, a moderate figure, as its new leader in a tightly contested race, company and union officials said, signaling a change in the body's often militant approach.

Lee Kyung-hun, who sought to represent centrist and pragmatic forces in the Hyundai Motor union while vowing to improve employee welfare, won 52.56 percent of 40,288 votes cast, defeating rival candidate Kwon O-il, who grabbed 46.98 percent of the votes, said the officials.

Throughout his campaign, Kwon had pledged to fight against the government's labor policies.

This is the first time in 15 years that the Hyundai Motor union has elected a moderate figure as its leader.

Lee, 49, focused his campaign on appealing to unionized workers fed-up with the current leadership's anti-government stance under the guidance of the umbrella Korean Metal Workers' Union.

One day later the "left"-liberal Hankyoreh newspaper wrote: "The outcome of Hyundai Motor chapter’s election suggests changes are in store for KMWU, and possibly broader labor movement strategy."

Yesterday Hankyoreh spoke with Chung Kap-deuk (KMWU) about the issue:

(Hyundai Motors) Unions’ decisions to elect moderates as leaders raises questions about South Korean labor movement’s direction

Regarding the new union leadership elections in Hyundai Motors that have taken place this month, Chung Kap-deuk, the chairperson of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU), one of the core unions in the Korea Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), granted the Hankyoreh an exclusive interview during the evening of Sept. 27 at the KMWU office located in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo neighborhood.

Hankyoreh: What is your opinion about the Hyundai Motor Union’s decision to elect a pragmatic moderate for the first time in nearly 15 years? And, what are KMWU’s thoughts on eliminating the current company-based chapters and reorganizing them into regional chapters?

Chung: “This has proven that the umbrella union’s leadership of its branch unions has been ineffective for the labor movement. It is time for us to re-examine the way we organize and to decide whether we need to adopt some changes.”

This is first time that a core leader in the KCTU expressed the idea that the current operations of the labor movement could be changed.

Hankyoreh: What can you tell us about the proposal for developing an industrial union?

Chung: “If we cannot build a strong industrial union, the labor movement will be unsuccessful and our members will be powerless. Moreover, if we stick to the labor movement’s current strategy of organizing, we may lose in the Kia Motor Union election.”

Hankyoreh: What are your thoughts on the Hyundai Motors Union election of Lee Gyeong-hun, the moderate candidate and winner?

Chung: “The current leadership of the Hyundai Motors Union has been placed in a difficult position, but it has not done much to proactively remedy the situation. We should reflect on the mistakes labor has made and become more flexible. We should put our energy into educating union members in order to better communicate.“

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/379270.html

Related articles:
☞ First moderate S. Korean union head elected in 14 years (Hankyoreh, 9.26)
☞ Hyundai Motor at crossroads ("editorial" by JoongAng Ilbo, 9.26)