Lee calls for more peaceful labor-management relations

President Lee Myung-bak called for more peaceful labor-management relations Monday after a recent walkout at a key auto parts maker had threatened to cripple operations at Hyundai and other local carmakers and their parts suppliers.

Lee issued the appeal during his biweekly radio address, saying labor unrest has long been considered a holdup in South Korea's efforts to attract foreign investment. South Korea ranks 53rd out of 59 nations in terms of competitiveness in labor-management relations, Lee said.