BY IGGY KIM
At the invitation of the United Auto Workers, a delegation of South Korean trade unionists visited the United States on June 1-8 to try to stop the sale of Daewoo Motors to US auto giant General Motors.
The delegation was made up of five sacked Daewoo workers as well as Yoo Gwang-joon, head of policy at the Daewoo Motors Labour Union, and four representatives of the Korean Metalworkers Federation, including its deputy president Yi Seok-hang.
Under the arrangements made by the UAW international bureau, the delegation's activity was focused on lobbying. Delegation leader Yi gave a speech at the GM shareholders' annual general meeting on June 5.
In response, GM chairperson Jack Smith confirmed the corporation's intention of "capturing the Korean market", which it considers "unique".
The Korean unionists also met with Democratic Party congressional representative Sherrod Brown on June 6. Brown is a vehement economic nationalist who opposes the loss of "American jobs" abroad.
To coincide with the US visit, the Korean Metalworkers Federation and Daewoo Motors Labour Union held a 1000-strong rally on June 2 in front of GM's Seoul office. While the rest of the delegation returned to South Korea on June 8, Yoo Gwang-joon remained in the US for an additional week at the invitation of the progressive International Action Centre.