Building Ships, Building a Nation

Discover the compelling narrative of labor and industry in Building Ships, Building a Nation by Hwasook Bergquist Nam, published by the University of Washington Press in 2011. This insightful book spans 336 pages, delving into the dynamic history of the Korea Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation (KSEC) during the tumultuous era of Park Chung Hee's rule from 1961 to 1979.

Explore the rise and eventual decline of KSEC's influential labor union, which was the largest shipyard in Korea until the emergence of Hyundai in the early 1970s. Nam meticulously examines the perceptions, attitudes, and discourses of heavy-industry workers, providing a rich context for understanding the labor movement in South Korea during the 20th century. Building Ships, Building a Nation is a must-read for those interested in labor history, industrial relations, and the evolution of the shipbuilding industry in Korea.