Law Commons^™

Litigating Labor Rights Across A Demilitarized Zone: The South Korean Constitutional Court As A Forum To Address Labor Violations In North Korea's Kaesong Special Economic Zone, Lavanga V. Wijekoon

Washington International Law Journal

South Korea heralds North Korea’s Kaesong Special Economic Zone as a shining example of inter-Korean cooperation. South Korean corporations at Kaesong combine South Korean expertise with North Korean labor. However, Kaesong operations violate the North Korean workers’ labor rights. This Comment explores the legal mechanisms available in South Korea to hold violative South Korean Kaesong corporations accountable. The South Korean Constitutional Court should entertain a constitutional petition from the North Korean workers. Such petition will compel the South Korean government to recognize the North Korean workers’ rights under the South Korean Constitution and hold violative South Korean corporations at Kaesong …