This article explores the impact of new unionism on the transformation of the Korean industrial relations (IR) system at both national and enterprise level. It is argued that the presence of a strong union movement added a unique dimension to the structural shift of Korea from low-cost export-oriented industrialization (EOI) to higher value-added EOI, different from other Asian newly industrialized countries (NICs). Employees' new found strength brought on a development of internal labour markets in large companies, forcing management to adopt new IR/HRM (human resource management) policies. The author notes two different orientations, solidarity-oriented industrial unionism and micro- corporatistic enterprise unionism, within the Korean labour movement. The article attempts to make a comparison of IR between Japan and Korea, highlighting differences as well as similarities.
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