South Korea: 17 GM union leaders took bribes from workers

A group of current and former leaders of the labor union of GM Korea were indicted for taking bribes from subcontracted employees, the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office announced Tuesday.

A total of 17 current and former leaders of the union of GM Korea, the South Korean unit of US automaker General Motors, including a 55-year-old former labor union leader surnamed Jeong, were indicted for violating the Labor Standards Act by taking bribes from subcontracted workers in return for helping them get hired at the company as salaried employees.

After raiding the residence of suspect Jeong last May, prosecutors found $349,260 in cash wrapped in plastic hidden in the ceiling of a bathroom. They found an additional 50 million won stashed in the trunk of Jeong’s car.

Jeong was indicted for taking a total of 560 million won in bribes from auto-parts suppliers and another 25 million won from three subcontracted workers in return for helping them get hired as salaried workers at GM Korea.

Full Content: Korea JoongAng Daily

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