South Korean labor leader studies LV unions

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1998 | 10:24 a.m.

A leader in the South Korean labor movement is studying unions across the United States, trying to learn things that may help the workers back home.

Baek Hun-Ki was at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 357 in Las Vegas on Monday. He questioned officials and was in turn questioned by them about labor issues.

Baek is vice chairman of the Federation of Korea Trade Union, president of the Korean Airport Workers Union and a representative of the Ramp Service and Maintenance Workers employed by Korean Air Lines.

The U.S. Embassy in South Korea invited Baek to come to this country for a 30-day tour of labor unions as part of a study program sponsored by the United States Information Agency International Visitor Program.

The AFL-CIO is escorting Baek on his tour, which so far has included unions in New York City and Dallas.

Among other things, Baek wants to learn about union apprenticeship and training programs.

"Prior to IMF (the International Monetary Fund) Korean labor unions were very active," said Baek, speaking through an interpreter. "Now, with IMF, job stability is most important -- it has weakened our position. Now, we focus on more training and finding other financial resources."

Last year the IMF, an international banking system, bailed South Korea out of a financial crisis after the collapse of several conglomerates, saddling banks with bad loans estimated at $26 billion that created a credit crisis and caused Korean currency to plunge in value and threatened to topple the South Korean economy.

It was the fourth Asian nation last year to be rescued by IMF. The others were the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

The financial crisis has had a severe impact on South Korean unions, which had been seeing a rise in the labor union movement.

In December, South Korea elected a new president, Kim Dae-jung, which Baek feels is good for the labor movement in his country.

"Hopefully, we will see a change in attitude," said Baek. "The government was quite confrontational in the past."