Category: Korea-General Topics

So where has this Lee been when his KCTU labor union buddies were busy assaulting police, raiding offices of politicians they don’t like, running extortion rackets, spying for North Korea, intimidating members of the media and families, disrupting USFK operations, and destroying property during conservative presidential administrations? Now that President Lee is in charge of the country he wants them to play nice:

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday warned that excessive labor-related demands by unionized workers could end up doing more harm than good to the unions and other fellow workers, urging a more responsible approach from unions when dealing with labor issues.

“While companies should treat workers as valuable partners in corporate management, workers and labor unions must also have a sense of responsibility,” Lee said during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae.

“If certain labor organizations face public outcry for excessive or unfair, self-serving demands, it would harm not only the unions themselves but other workers as well,” Lee said, urging a sense of solidarity with fellow laborers. 

Lee’s remarks came as a major labor union of Samsung Electronics Co. has threatened to launch an 18-day general strike starting May 21, demanding high bonuses in proportion to the company’s record high revenue.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

There is probably a lot worse abuse then a face slap going on in these South Korean companies employing foreign workers:

A video showing a Bangladeshi worker being assaulted at a factory in Incheon has sparked public outrage, prompting a government response and a police investigation.

Authorities are looking into the case, and civic groups are calling for stronger structural measures to prevent repeated abuse of migrant workers. The incident comes shortly after another case involving a Thai worker, deepening concerns over the treatment of migrant workers in Korea.

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

If China is unhappy about this defense cooperation this should be a sign to India that the products they are receiving are high quality. The Chinese would not be complaining if South Korea was selling them junk equipment:

China would see India’s attempt to expand defense industry cooperation with South Korea in artillery and anti-aircraft guns as “inevitably sensitive” given Beijing’s border dispute with New Delhi in the Himalayas, according to analysts.

After meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as part of his three-day visit to India, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced that Seoul and Delhi had agreed to upgrade their economic cooperation, focusing on vital sectors such as shipbuilding, defense and artificial intelligence.

Lee said South Korea fully backed India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” or self-reliant India policy and hoped to “actively” support the production and operation of Indian defense equipment and discuss cooperation such as in technology development.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

This news shouldn’t be surprising considering President Lee’s track record of being welcoming to China:

Members of Congress blasted South Korean leadership over a “left-wing government closely aligned with China,” that they accused of “attacking” American companies and showing favoritism to Chinese-led businesses. 

In a letter led by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., more than 50 members of the House of Representatives expressed their concern to Republic of Korea (ROK) Ambassador to the United States Kyung-wha Kang over what they deemed to be “discriminatory” business practices from the ROK.  

“Many American tech companies have faced a range of regulatory actions that seek to punish them while shielding Korean domestic competition,” the letter reads. “Recent research by think tank Competere shows such regulatory actions by the ROK government will cost $1 trillion in combined economic damage to the U.S. and Korean economies over the next 10 years, with the U.S. economy losing $525 billion and American households losing nearly $4,000 each.”

Fox News

You can read more at the link.

I would assume this tanker did not pay the toll since it was allowed to pass through the U.S. Navy’s blockade:

A tanker that breached the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is scheduled to arrive in South Korea, Reuters reported on the 20th.

According to Kpler, a maritime data analysis company, the Maltese-flagged Suezmax-class oil tanker Odessa (Odessa)ho passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 13th and is heading to South Korea.

Chosun Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

All I see is a lot of talk with no plan of action on what these countries plan to do to open the Strait of Hormuz other than wait for the U.S. to open it for them:

President Lee Jae Myung stressed the need for Korea and India to work together to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in an interview published Monday, also highlighting the need for joint efforts to stabilize global supply chains.

In a written interview with The Times of India, held before his summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he noted that the effective closure of the critical shipping route due to the prolonged conflict between the United States and Iran has been driving up global oil prices while also disrupting supply chains for key industrial materials.

“Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant share of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential to the safety of our peoples and the very survival of our nations,” Lee said, referring to Korea by its official name.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.