Labour polarization: Labour aristocracy versus irregular workers in post-development Korea

Hyung A. Kim*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Focusing on the on-going conflict between the so-called labor aristocracy of regular workers of large firms in heavy and chemical industry and irregular workers who comprise 45% of all wage earners in South Korean society, this chapter examines labor polarization in post-developmental Korea. The chapter argues that the Korean case of supercapitalism drove not only chaebol to become far more competitive, global and innovative, but also drove the large-firm trade unions to corporatize their management structures, through which regular skilled workers and their militant unions exploit irregular workers as a buffer for their own company-based union interests in todays post-developmental Korea.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationKorea's Quest for Economic Democratization
    Subtitle of host publicationGlobalization, Polarization and Contention
    PublisherSpringer International Publishing Switzerland
    Pages119-139
    Number of pages21
    ISBN (Electronic)9783319570662
    ISBN (Print)9783319570655
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2017

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