'Peanut Rebellion' Park Chang-jin Announces Candidacy for General Election: "I Will Be a Shield for Workers"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Park Chang-jin, branch chief of the Korean Air Employees' Solidarity under the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who was a victim of the 'Peanut Flight' incident, officially announced his candidacy for the general election on the 22nd.

On the same day, Park held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall and said, "As a public interest whistleblower who survived the oppression of power, I will humbly accept the destiny given to me," and "I declare my candidacy for the Justice Party proportional representation primary."

He emphasized, "Our society is one where sound public interest whistleblowers cannot survive, so everyone becomes a bystander to injustice and unfairness," and "The superficial outside director system must be reorganized according to its original purpose, and the labor director system and stewardship code should be expanded."

He also pledged, "I will establish an 'Emergency Relief 119 Center' to support workers who have suffered from workplace 'gapjil' (abuse of power) and enact a law to charge companies three times the cost for victim support."

He said, "We must make the flower of workplace democracy bloom in labor sites," and "I will be a strong shield for workers."

Park, who joined the Justice Party in 2017, was appointed last September as the special chairman of the Justice Party's People's Labor Union and has been active in that role.