The transformation of industrial relations in Korea : a case study of the automobile manufacturing company, Kia Motors, 1980-1992

It is generally accepted that a substantial change has taken place in Korean industrial relations since 1987. However, despite the wide recognition of these changes and subsequent studies, very few empirical studies have been undertaken to examine the shifts in the pattern and processes of the practice of industrial relations at the firm level, which is essential for the verification of the general consensus of view on such changes. Without such practical research, it is difficult to truly understand the direction of such changes and, therefore, to respond effectively to such changes. Based on this conviction, this thesis will try to delineate a clear picture of change in Korean industrial relations via a specific case study of Kia Motors, with reference to findings on macro-level changes. Before proceeding to the next section of this thesis, it would be advantageous to detail the research procedures so that the research context is fully understood. This part, in this regard, will briefly outline the next steps in this thesis. In Chapter Two, the theoretical background adopted for the analysis of industrial relations issues in Korea has been taken from The Transformation of American Industrial Relations (Kochan et alii of 1986). Through an evaluation of the history of American industrial relations, an extensive review of empirical studies and after the collection and analysis of a wide variety of primary and secondary qualitative and quantitative data, the authors claim that America has recently experienced a fundamental transformation in its industrial relations system. Specific reasoning will be provided later, but the fact that the theory adopted by Kochan et alii deals with the transformation of American industrial relations provides ample justification for it to be used as a theoretical framework for the analysis of rapid changes in Korean industrial relations since 1987. The empirical case study of Kia Motors will also examine the appropriateness of Kochan et alii's theoretical framework for analysing Korean industrial relations. In this thesis, Kochan et alii's strategic choice theory and the ”Framework for Analysing Industrial Relations Issues“ (vid. Figure 2.1) are given special emphasis, as they provide a unique diagnostic method of research for the processes and patterns of change in industrial relations