The situation of the Korean Labor Video Activism and a

The situation of the Korean Labor Video Activism and a Proposal about International Networking

Myoung Joon Kim

(Labor News Production)

1. Historical background

The Korean Labor Video Activism started in the late 80's. The ability of professional video activists combined with an explosive organizational development of the labor movement since 1987 and the formation of video industry provided the labor video activism with a proper environment to start working in earnest. Now, in about 10 years after that, it is the activity of Labor News Production(below LNP) which is epitomizing the present level of labor video activism. LNP, a labor videomaking group organized in 1989 has been doing 7 key component activities of production, shooting & archive, training, organizing, solidarity, research and distribution, & festival.

The number of independent video groups increased gradually during the last decade and the activities of workers' video-making groups in labor unions came to be visible clearly since the late 90's. That is, the Korean labor video activism have been on the way from its fledgling state to the upper one in terms of not only professional production of video but also public access to production on the basis of its historic experiences.

2. the Situation and Issues of Labor Video Activism

(1) Key players in labor video activism

1) Professional Production Groups

Although as shown in the activities of LNP, their ability to product and organize got away from the budding phase, professional production groups are rather far from being a subject which generates policy issues.

2) Workers' Video-Making Groups

Although the workers' video activism has developed dramatically for the last several years, there are still not many groups which are able to do consistent activities during not only the time of struggle but also the routine period.

3) the Extent to Which the Video Activism is Perceived in the Labor Movement.

As in other countries, labor union or labor movement does not have an obvious political direction concerning the whole communication system including labor videos and take appropriate steps to support professional groups or workers' groups. There are some unions which have members in charge of video activism but the recognition that the video activism and cultual struggle are critical in labor movement does not get proper attention despite successful cases. That is a major reason that labor video activists suffer from poor budgets.

(2) Policy issues

1) the Problem of Distribution

Labor video activists were able to establish a relatively more secure distribution system than other independent vid대 groups through the experience of using the network of trade unions for distribution since the late 80's, but its present condition leaves very much to be desired.

The construction of KCTU did not lead to a quantitative expansion of distribution system and the products of labor video activists are not reaching latent consumers in various levels. Before new TV distribution and theater release system come into the agenda of video activism, the construction of distribution network between unions, schools and civic groups should have priority.

2) the Engagement to Democratic Media Movement including Public Access

Korea is viewed as one of countries which have much chance to introduce public access. Furthermore, as you can see through the process of the project for people's TV, despite the absolute lack of progressive producers, the fact that the public has a smoldering desire for new channels has been already proven several times. However, the labor movement which has fallen victim of mainstream media does not have its own progressive perspectives for democratization of the media structure. In particular, the reality is that we do not even know about not only how to make alternative media structure but also what to do to utilize externally given structures such as public access. The labor and political movements have to inquire into and reflect on why this happened.

3. the Issues for International Networking

International solidarity activities of labor video activists have been developing in various levels for the 90's. In particular, a variety of interactions using internet, direct discussions through conferences(Labormedia in Korea, Labortech in America) and reciprocal distributions are our important experiences preparing new millennium. Still, despite the drastic development, the whole picture of international networking has not been drawn yet.

LPN has accumulated its experiences of international networking through international film festival, overseas distribution of its products and participation in Videazimut. On the grounds of these experiences, LNP is trying to make following proposals.

(1) Routine Exchange of Information

As you can see during this labor film festival, the international interaction of labor activists became routine to the extent that it can not be compared with the one of 2 years ago. However, the interaction has not been systematized yet and there is no organic network which makes it possible to penetrate the global trend of labor video and film movements. To overcome this situation, we need to make a consensus on listing of web sites and mailing. Let's make this conference a starting point and improve routine exchanges of information constructing labor video activism mailing list. It would be possible to run newsletter on the basis of 1 posting per month. We could also consider the proposal that groups which can afford to should take lead in making labor film databases.

(2) Labor Film & Video Database

Some labor video activists have been serving streaming videos on their own website already. Such services are not only a very vital channel through which the condition of local labor movement is able to be known internationally and locally but also a major medium for public sharing of the reality concealed by mainstream media.

To make this database more organizational, it is needed to make links between each groups' streaming video and help digitalize databases of countries which can't afford to. That is, it would be possible to run projects 'monthly international labor news' - for instance - on the internet. We could consider to do such a web work together with Jinbo Network, Freespeech TV, etc.

(3) Organization of International Film Festival

There are some film festivals featuring labor around the world as in America, France( needs to be confirmed), Korea, South Africa, etc. The projects to activate inter-festival information exchange and organize such an festivals in other countries are needed.

We could concentrate databases of the works screened on the festivals utilizing certain fruits from the establishing database activities or we could do it as a method of constructing such a database. And further, we could consider that programers in each countries cooperate to search and cast works for festivals.

(4) Co-Production Project - Working TV, WTO's cases

There are some co-production experiences already in some areas. For example, the Canadian Working TV showed a good model in a last-year work which it co-produced together with Korea, Israel activists using internet, video and cellular phones. And independent media activists are planing to construct an independent media center in Seattle and start satellite-broadcasting against the coming Millennium Round.

Solidarity activities should start from the elementary step such as program exchanges and develope to run a project, 'quarterly world labor video news' - for instance. In such a project, international confederations of trade unions' active support is very needed but, if it is not available, we should push ahead with our own project based on activists' consensus.

(5) Solidarity with Democratic Media Movements

Some labor video activists are deployed in the international organizations of democratic media movement represented by AMARC, Videazimut, APC, etc. However, a considerable number of labor video activists do not get in touch with such organizations. So, they are detached from democratic media movements' frontline against the mainstream media. Although we do not know which level the democratic media groups will be together with progressive labor movement in, we should pay attention to their activities to become labor video activism representing whole society while doing active internal works partly. For example, we could consider organizational participation in Videazimut, a leading coalition in the democratic video movement.

(6) Exchange of Ideas on Policy Issues, Practice Methods, etc

Labor video activists from different countries are sharing policy issues in their own level. As shown in this conference, the levels are various. From activity method of group, to prospect of independent channel, struggle for the freedom of expression, role of labor video activism, structure of public access and to labor video, each country is sharing similar issues. The activation of specific discussions on these levels will lead to specific contents which accelerate organization of labor video network far beyond the contents of works. In particular, the network should generate the strategic contents about progressive labor picture & communication movement.

How will the labor movement draw the picture of the future visual media & communication system?

4. Labor Video as a Medium for Grassroots International Solidarity and Education

Korean and international labor video activism has overcome numerous difficulties to the present from nearly nothing. The on-going crisis of world capitalism system is making clear the responsibility of progressive labor movement, and especially it is ventilating the role of video activists as a crucial medium for international solidarity and education. We, now, propose the construction of global labor video network after inquire into the agendas submitted on the above and making a consensus on plan for the practice. Although there are still a number of obstacles ahead, we have already accumulated a number of experiences for the last 5 years and prepared to a certain degree for the leap to a new phase. Let's imagine the day when the 'Labor Video International' will play a pivotal role in the international labor movement someday on the basis of today's small practices.