On the afternoon of the 16th, delivery workers' union members who were holding a strike rally at Yeouido Park are dispersing after a tentative agreement was reached between labor and management in the delivery industry on a mediation plan to prevent overwork-related deaths of delivery drivers. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Recently, a COVID-19 confirmed case emerged at a courier union strike rally attended by about 4,000 people, sparking public outrage. On the Blue House's national petition board, a post demanding mandatory self-quarantine orders for all rally participants was also posted.
According to authorities on the 18th, two union members belonging to the National Courier Union Post Office Headquarters who attended the rally tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier, from the 15th for two days, about 4,000 courier union members gathered around Yeouido Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to urge for countermeasures and implementation of social agreements, staging a sit-in protest. Following a provisional agreement among labor, management, and government, their demands were accepted, and they returned to work the next day.
When news of the large-scale courier union rally spread, a post titled "Request for self-quarantine orders for 4,000 courier union members who participated in the Seoul rally" was uploaded on the Blue House national petition board on the 17th.
On the 17th, a post titled "Request for Self-Quarantine Orders for 4,000 Delivery Workers' Union Members Who Participated in the Seoul Rally" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition Board. [Photo by Blue House National Petition Board Capture]
The petitioner stated, "In the current difficult situation worldwide due to COVID-19, an unimaginable number of people gathered in one place for a rally," adding, "While we are steadily working on vaccination and quarantine efforts, such anti-national behavior urgently requires a self-quarantine order from the Blue House, the head of the executive branch." They also pointed out, "If these individuals return to their respective regions and COVID-19 cases occur, a massive outbreak is feared."
As these concerns became reality, public anger has grown. Citizens responded with comments such as, "I don't understand how they can ignore citizens' safety for their own benefit," "Hearing about large-scale rallies only makes me think they are selfish," and "It's frustrating."
The courier union stated, "According to the test results confirmed so far, there are two confirmed cases," adding that both individuals were asymptomatic but were found infected through voluntary testing after the rally. They also noted, "The confirmed cases belong to the same workplace, and except for them, the rest of the personnel at that workplace tested negative." Currently, tests are underway for about 900 rally participants and police officers deployed on site.
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