The candidates for the upcoming leadership election of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions(FKTU), the largest trade union center in Korea, who move to prepare for the race are getting clearer. The FKTU leadership election is scheduled on January 24 next year.
Five candidates are reportedly known to run for the election so far as follows; Kim Dong-man(current FKTU president), Kim Man-jae(president of the Federation of Korean Metalworkers Trade Unions), Kim Moon-ho(president of the Korean Financial Industry Union), Kim Joo-young(president of the Federation of Korean Public Industry Trade Unions) and Lee In-sang(president of the Federation of Korean Public Trade Unions)(listed in Korean alphabetic order).
Two candidates are from the financial sector(Kim Dong-man and Kim Moon-ho) and the public sector(Kim Joo-young and Lee In-sang) respectively. One candidate(Kim Man-jae) is from the manufacturing sector(metal). The conservative group of the Korean Transport Workers Federation(KTF) within the FKTU which organizes the bus and taxi drivers, seafarers and port workers did not nominate a candidate this time which is anticipated to hold the casting vote in the new FKTU leadership election.
When the election day is coming nearer, a unification process between candidates will be likely to be formed, in viewing that two candidates from the same trade union background(financial and public) may get divided supports from their trade unions.
reported by Bae Hye-jeong
translated by Kim Sung-jin