Strategic Cooperation Agreement Signed between HAK-İŞ and Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU)

Ankara - On 24 September 2025, Mahmut Arslan, President of HAK-İŞ, one of the largest labor confederations in Turkey, and its affiliated union HİZMET-İŞ, welcomed Dongmyeong Kım, President of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (FKTU), and the accompanying high-level delegation to HAK-İŞ Headquarters. Following the talks, a joint cooperation agreement was signed between the two sister confederations, laying the foundations for a new era in the trade union field.

Emphasis on High Level Participation and Dialogue between Delegations

HAK-İŞ delegation included President Mahmut Arslan, Vice Presidents Yunus Değirmenci and Devlet Sert, Secretary General Eda Akbulut and Assistant Secretaries Fatma Zengin and Hamdi Abdullah Koçoğlu. The Korean delegation was led by President Dongmyeong Kim and included key figures such as Policy Bureau Director Jaekang Ryu and International Affairs Director Seil Oh.

In his opening speech, President Arslan expressed his satisfaction and expressed his happiness that the FKTU delegation was invited to HAK-İŞ at the L20 meeting in South Africa and that the invitation was accepted in a short time. Arslan briefed the Korean delegation with detailed presentations on the national and international activities of HAK-İŞ, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

"Martyrs in the War are at the Heart of Turkey-Korea Relations"

Emphasizing that Turkey-Korea friendship is the basis of the strong bond between the two confederations, Mahmut Arslan said, "Turkey-Korea friendship is the basis of the relations between HAK-İŞ and FKTU." Recalling the support given during the Korean War, Mr. Arslan stated that "more than 15 thousand soldiers were sent from our country to Korea to support the war and that we lost many martyrs, and that Turkey-Korea relations are based on the basic values of friendship and brotherhood."

Consensus on Workers' Rights: Dialogue and Consensus-Oriented Trade Unionism

Arslan stated that HAK-İŞ and FKTU have a fundamental consensus beyond just activities. "HAK-İŞ cares about social dialogue. We do not see labor-employer relations as an ideological camp. We have a negotiating, compromising, dialogic union approach to protect the rights of workers."

President Arslan drew attention to the low unionization rate in both countries and mentioned HAK-İŞ's efforts to solve this problem. He stated that they have carried out exemplary work especially in preventing unregistered employment, inclusion of disadvantaged groups in the social security system and unionization. Arslan underlined that more than 65 thousand domestic workers and home-based workers have recently started to organize under the umbrella of HİZMET-İŞ.

Gaza Emphasis: "Humanity is Dying"

While discussing international cooperation, President Arslan invited the world trade union movement to be sensitive to the genocide in Palestine and Gaza. Arslan emphasized that "the US-backed Zionist murderers continue their massacres in Gaza in front of the eyes of the whole world and that not only the people of Gaza and Palestine but also humanity is dying in Gaza."

FKTU President Kim: "This Friendship Will Be the Cornerstone"

The President of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions Dongmyeong Kım expressed his honor for their visit. Stating that Turkey is a sister country, Kım said, "I am especially excited and grateful to meet with Mahmut Arslan, who has worked for workers' rights and social justice." He hoped that the signed agreement "will be the cornerstone that will lead to positive changes for the workers of the two countries." Kim also expressed their unacceptance of the genocide and attacks on human rights in Palestine and gave a message of international solidarity.

After all the speeches, the Joint Cooperation Agreement between HAK-İŞ and FKTU was officially signed by President Mahmut Arslan and FKTU President Dongmyeong Kim and entered into force.