Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07SEOUL306, KCTU CHOOSES MODERATE AS NEW LEADER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SEOUL306.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SEOUL306 2007-02-01 02:59 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Seoul
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #0306/01 0320259
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010259Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2650
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1979
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2074
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
UNCLAS SEOUL 000306 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ECON KS
SUBJECT: KCTU CHOOSES MODERATE AS NEW LEADER 
 
REF: A. SEOUL 0097 
     B. 06 SEOUL 4194 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU)  The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) 
elected a new president on Saturday January 27.  Lee 
Seok-haeng was chosen by a narrow margin as the head of the 
more radical umbrella labor organization supported by 760,000 
workers.  As a self-proclaimed moderate, Lee's election marks 
a shift in KCTU's approach to labor relations both with the 
government and with employers.  Choosing a moderate as the 
new leader also sends a signal that the organization 
recognizes it fell out of favor with the general public and 
will work to restore that trust over the next three years 
during Lee's tenure.  In his acceptance speech, Lee said that 
his first two agenda items were to defeat the KORUS FTA and 
improve conditions for non-regular workers (explicitly 
raising the priority of these two items above others in the 
prior leadership's broader agenda). 
 
A NARROW VICTORY 
---------------- 
 
2. (SBU)  In the wake of a difficult year for labor unions 
where the public openly criticized them for pursuing 
political agendas and unnecessarily disrupting the economy, 
KCTU chose a moderate to lead the organization for the next 
three years.  Lee joined the labor movement after he was 
fired from Daedong Heavy Industries and went on to serve as 
KCTU's general secretary until recently.  Lee Seok-haeng 
received 482 votes from 919 representatives participating in 
the voting process to claim a narrow 52 percent victory. 
Reports indicate that this win came only after a second vote 
was held, necessitated by an initial lack of a simple 
majority. 
 
THE WAY FORWARD 
--------------- 
 
3. (SBU)  Lee takes control of one of the two largest 
umbrella trade organizations in Korea that is best known for 
its violent protests and propensity for prolonged strikes. 
Suggesting a shift from this past, Lee said in his acceptance 
speech "I will do my best so that the Korean Confederation of 
Trade Unions will be respected by its members and loved by 
the nation."  A recent poll indicated that 65 percent of 
respondents favored cracking down on illegal strikers while 
only 21 percent were opposed.  KCTU supported a number of 
illegal strikes last year, the most recent came at the end of 
2006 at Hyundai Motors (Ref A).  Some workers under the KCTU 
umbrella complained that walkouts were led by union leaders 
and did not reflect the opinions of ordinary workers.  In 
response to these concerns, Lee said that he will strive to 
obtain internal consensus before initiating talks with 
management. 
 
4. (SBU)  In perhaps the most telling statement during his 
acceptance speech, Lee stated that "A strike is a means, and 
it can never be a goal."  One editorial suggested that this 
new approach to labor negotiations may help in changing the 
foreign investor's perception that the Korean labor force is 
a major hurdle preventing foreign investors from coming to 
Korea.  KCTU argues that it is working to protect the jobs 
and rights of Korean citizens.  It has actively (and 
sometimes violently) advocated against the KORUS FTA for this 
same reason.  In his acceptance speech, Lee said that his 
first two agenda items were to defeat the KORUS FTA and 
improve conditions for irregular workers (explicitly raising 
the priority of these two items above others in the prior 
leadership's broader agenda). 
 
5. (SBU)  Lee also said that he would not reject talks with 
the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the other trade 
union umbrella organization.  This is a positive sign that 
KCTU may rejoin the Tri-Partite Commission working toward 
labor reform through an agreement between labor, employers 
and government.  KCTU has been at odds with FKTU after the 
more moderate umbrella group signed a deal with employers and 
the government in November of last year (Ref B) to provide 
protections for non-regular workers.  KCTU has not 
participated in Tri-Partite Commission, meetings designed to 
foster positive labor relations, since 1999. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
6. (SBU)  Although Lee's election marks a shift away from 
KCTU's radical past, the small margin of victory shows the 
lack of a broad consensus among the unions about which 
tactics will best serve them and the workers they represent. 
If Lee is not able to appease the hard-liners who did not 
support his rise to power, they are likely to break away from 
KCTU and form their own umbrella organization.  In his first 
public statements as President, Lee focused on common ground 
by confirming his opposition to the KORUS FTA, a sentiment 
not only shared by the vast majority of KCTU members but also 
the majority of FKTU members.  Given that Lee has reconfirmed 
his strong opposition to the KORUS FTA, it is likely that 
there will be loud (but not necessarily violent) opposition 
as the talks draw nearer to conclusion and on to possible 
ratification. 
VERSHBOW