South Korea's Skilled Workers of the 1970s: Pioneers of Korea's Industrialization

This study examines the collective role of the first generation of South Korea's skilled workers who were initially trained with the state's financial and other support between 1972 and 1987. Focusing on their changed image over the past three decades, especially from being "Industrial Warriors" in the 1970s through to 1987, to "labor aristocracy" in present-day South Korea, the study analyses the historical significance of their role in South Korea's rapid development. It argues that the collective role of the first generation of South Korea's skilled workers needs to be fully appreciated for their pioneering role in Korea's industrialization, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding their employment privileges as regular workers in large heavy industry firms