General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea explained

General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea
Members:1.6 million (2003)
Publication:Rodongja Sinmun
Location Country:North Korea
Affiliation:DFRK, WFTU
Leader Title2:Ideology
Leader Name2:Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism
Key People:Pak In-chol (chairman)
Module:
Context:north
Rr:Joseon Jigeom Chongdongmaeng
Mr:Chosŏn Chigŏm Ch'ongdongmaeng
Child:yes

The General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK;) is the sole legal trade union federation in North Korea. GFTUK was formed on November 30, 1945 as the General Federation of Trade Unions of North Korea. In January 1951, it was reorganized and adopted its current name.[1] The chairman of the central committee of GFTUK is Pak In-chol.[2]

Organization

, GFTUK has 1.6 million members, down from more than 2.4 million in the 1970s.[3] During the Cold War, its membership was about half of the membership of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The ratio was comparatively low for a socialist country, evidencing the relatively unimportant role of unions in North Korea, which was one of the most industrialized socialist countries.[4] Nevertheless, GFTUK was considered one of the most important mass organizations in the country.[5] All workers of 30 years of age are required to be members of GFTUK if they are not members of WPK, the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea, or the Socialist Women's Union of Korea.

Domestically, GFTUK was a member of the popular front Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea[6] until its dissolution in 2024.[7] Internationally, the Federation is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions,[8] which it joined on May 2, 1947.[9] The unions of GFTUK are affiliated to the various branch organizations of WFTU. The head of the international department of GFTUK is Im Jong-gi .

The website of the Korean Friendship Association states that "(The GFTUK) conducts ideological education to ensure its members fully understand the Juche idea and gets them to take part in socialist construction and the management of the socialist economy with the attitude befitting masters. It has its organizations in different branches of industry." However, the North Korea Handbook states that the GFTUK is not designed to serve its members but the WPK. GFTUK is directly controlled by the Central Committee of the WPK.[10]

Rodongja Sinmun is the organ of the Central Committee of GFTUK. Officially, the guiding ideology of the organization is Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism.[11]

Former chairmen

List of unions affiliated to GFTUK

GFTUK has two types of trade unions, the ones in state enterprises and the ones in private enterprises.

The following trade unions, representing nine different industries,[14] comprise GFTUK:[15]

See also

References

Works cited

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Democratic People's Republic of Korea_Juche Korea. korea-dpr.com. 2016-12-04. 2016-12-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20161208171656/http://www.korea-dpr.com/politicorganization.html. dead.
  2. Web site: 11th Enlarged Plenary Meeting of 7th Central Committee of GFTUK Held . KCNA . KCNA Watch . 5 March 2021 . 8 March 2021 .
  3. Encyclopedia: Korea . The Great Soviet Encyclopedia . 3rd . 1970–1979. The Gale Group, Inc . 31 January 2021 . TheFreeDictionary.com .
  4. Book: Santonen, Arvo. Kansainvälinen. 3: Työväenliike Aasiassa, Afrikassa ja Latinalaisessa Amerikassa. 1989. Weilin+Göös. Espoo. fi. 951-35-4211-4. 39.
  5. Book: Scalapino. Robert A.. Chun-yŏp Kim. North Korea Today: Strategic and Domestic Issues. 1983. Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, Center for Korean Studies. 978-0-912966-55-7. 84.
  6. Book: Lansford, Tom. Political Handbook of the World 2015. 2015. CQ Press. Singapore. 978-1-4833-7155-9. 3330.
  7. News: 25 March 2024 . Longstanding N. Korean unification-oriented front dissolves itself, saying there’s ‘no need’ for it . 28 March 2024 . The Hankyoreh.
  8. Web site: International Organizations . East-West Center, The National Committee on North Korea . North Korea in the World . 22 May 2016 . 24 February 2019 .
  9. Book: Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Second Periodic Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant: Addendum: Democratic People's Republic of Korea. DOC. 15 May 2002. United Nations Economic and Social Council. E/1990/6/Add.35. 3 February 2021. 13.
  10. Web site: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; U.S. Department of State. 8 January 2017.
  11. Web site: General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea . 2023-01-09 . Naenara.
  12. Web site: Civil servants mark this year's first sports day . KCNA . . 2017-01-10 . 2017-05-16 .
  13. Web site: 6th Session of the 13th SPA Held . North Korea Leadership Watch . 14 April 2018 . 29 January 2019 .
  14. Web site: Workers' Organizations . North Korea Leadership Watch . 16 January 2018 . 25 February 2019 .
  15. Book: The Europa World Year. 45th. II: Kazakhstan - Zimbabwe. 2004. Europa Publications. London. 978-1-85743-255-8. 2486.

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