Abstract
The construction industry in Korea is characterized by a complex pyramid structure comprised of one main construction company (“main contractor”) and several layers of subcontractors. The prevailing form of employment relationship is informal and indirect employment via intermediaries or foremen. Constructionworkers are hired only for the period of a certain construction project. The number of economically dependent construction workers also rapidly increased since the late 1990s. This case study focuses on the strategies of the Korean trade unions in their fight for precarious workers’ rights.