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Hyundai Motor: 16 Years of Conflict Over Subcontracted Workers' Direct Employment Lawsuit
Hyundai Motor In-House Subcontractors: A 16-Year Legal Battle
The legal dispute surrounding the demand for direct employment by Hyundai Motor's in-house subcontracted workers has continued for 16 years since the lawsuit began in 2010. At the time, the Hyundai Motor Irregular Workers' Union staged a 25-day factory occupation protest, demanding direct employment. Subsequently, workers from primary and secondary subcontractors filed lawsuits alleging illegal dispatch and seeking employee status confirmation. The first and second instance courts ruled that there was a possibility of illegal dispatch for some in-house subcontracted workers, and in 2022, the Supreme Court remanded the case for a new trial. Subsequently, the Seoul High Court also partially recognized the workers' employee status.
Dispute Prolonged as Case Returns to Supreme Court
However, Hyundai Motor appealed the decision again to the Supreme Court, prolonging the case without a conclusion for 16 years. Lee Yeon-won, a member of the Hyundai Motor Irregular Workers' Branch, stated that the case is currently in a procedure equivalent to the 'fifth instance' and emphasized that the delay in proceedings is causing immense harm to the workers. To date, a total of 22 lawsuits seeking employee status recognition have been filed by Hyundai Motor's irregular workers. Yoon Sang-seop, head of the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) Hyundai Motor Irregular Workers' Branch, stressed that judicial delay is not neutral, and its damage is concentrated on workers. While discussions for institutional improvements to protect labor rights continue, the conflict surrounding the status of in-house subcontracted workers persists.
*Source: YouTube: KBS News (2026-03-12)*
