Press Release
(Publication of the “Labor Union Manual (3rd Edition)”)
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1.        We wish your company continued growth and success.
2.        We are pleased to introduce the fully revised 3rd edition of the Labor Union Manual, newly published to meet the practical needs of the field.
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(1) Main Contents of the Book
(Quoted from the Preface)
In this Labor Union Manual, the author draws upon his personal experience of handling labor relations at his first workplace and, after becoming a certified labor attorney, dealing extensively with collective labor-management relations over the past 20 years. Based on this experience, he sought to systematically organize the subject. It is hoped that this manual will serve as a practical reference for frontline practitioners responsible for labor union matters.
Korean labor law consists of two fundamental legal frameworks. One is the Labor Standards Act, based on Article 32 of the Constitution, which sets minimum standards of working conditions to protect human dignity. The other is the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (TULRAA), based on Article 33 of the Constitution, which guarantees the three basic labor rights for the improvement of working conditions.
Article 33(1) of the Constitution provides that:
“Workers shall have the right to independent association, collective bargaining, and collective action for the purpose of improving working conditions.”
In other words, the TULRAA was enacted to ensure the practical realization of the three fundamental labor rights guaranteed as workers’ basic constitutional rights. Although many companies and even some workers tend to perceive labor unions negatively, the author believes that, in reality, labor union activities are the most effective means of protecting workers’ rights and improving working conditions.
This manual explains the methods of establishing and operating labor unions based on practical experience and accumulated materials. It also provides case studies on collective bargaining and collective action. In particular, the manual describes various cases arising in the process of concluding collective agreements and explains how labor and management can establish a mutually beneficial relationship.
Notably, this edition includes a detailed explanation of the amended Trade Union Act (commonly referred to as the “Yellow Envelope Act”), which will take effect on March 10, 2026. Protection of non-regular workers has limitations under individual labor standards legislation alone. As a final safeguard against discrimination toward non-regular workers, the amended Trade Union Act may serve as a mechanism to improve the working conditions of subcontracted and dispatched workers.
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(2) Key Features of the Book
1.        Title: Labor Union Manual
2.        Length: 335 pages (335 pages each in Korean and English; 670 pages combined)
3.        Price: KRW 35,000
4.        Publisher: KangNam Labor Law Firm Publishing Department
5.        Authors: Bongsoo Jung, Certified Labor Attorney; Sangyung Park, Attorney-at-Law
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(3) Main Table of Contents