Welcome to BASE21

Korean government decided to introduce the IMF 2 years ago. Although the
Korean economy recovers and unemployment rate is now lowering, laborers
can not let go of the bad memories. The IMF challenged the Korean
government with harsh requirements under the name of neo-liberalism. As a
result, many laborers were fired, and most of them became homeless. Those
who struggled to survive were forced to endure bad working situations.
That year, KCTU(Korean Confederation of Trade Unions) went on a strike
that lead to a successful outcome. Through the actions of this labor
union, many activists realized that a systematic international solidarity
is needed for change. Their ideas have lead to the opening of a conference
for the development of labor movement through the new media: Internet,
video and PC communications.

'The 2nd Seoul International Labor Media '99' was held for one week (15-
21 of November) at Soongsil University and Seoul University. The network
strategy of labor against the attack of Neo-liberalism, practical use of
communications media for labor movement, and the plan for international
solidarity were discussed. The Committee of Korean Labor Network and many
labor unions sponsored this conference. The international progressive
network team included Turkey, Belgium, Australia. The public of South
Africa, US, Germany and England also participated. The 30 foreign and 600
Korean participants organized 12 workshops and the 3rd labor video
festival.

Through each workshop, participants shared the fruits of the development
of the labor network. In the case of Korea, the history of a labor network
isn't long. 4 years ago, Korea Telecom(a major public enterprise in Korea)
went on a strike against the government. Korean government arrested
executives of KT labor union and suppressed that strike strongly. In spite
of this situation, executives delivered order to laborers through the
Closed User Group (CUG). They lead the strike successfully at 500 branches
of KC all over the country. This movement demonstrated the importance of
the communications media for the labor movement. Through this experience,
'97 Seoul International Labor Media' was held. Korean activists had access
to foreign labor networks and started to prepare the Korean labor network.
They established the Jinbo-network (progressive network) and the Nodong-
network (labor network) in November, 1998. These network serves as a
measure to give opportunities for communication between laborers and to
unite foreign laborers.

The development of labor movement and labor activists have solidified the
basis of international solidarity through the Labor Media Conference. On
the dark side of the event, an American activist, Steve Zeltzer, was
banished from Korea at Kimpo airport. He came to Korea to participate at
the 'Labor Media Conference' but was denied admission by airport
authorities into Korea as he was on the black list. Steve Zeltzer
participated in political movements in Korea such as 'the rally of
laborers' and 'the march for abolishing National Security Law'. The
government has also expelled the France activist Christoper Agitong. The
Dae Jung government claim to stand for 'globalization', however they
continue to suppress inhibit the international solidarity of the labor
movement. "Labor union must not yield to supression, we have to strengthen
solidarity through usual life." said Jang chang-wan, a chairman of
committee that prepared the labor media conference.

Though the anachronistic behavior of government put a damper on the 'Labor
Media Conference', we can see the possibilities of the development of
international solidarity in the labor movement.