Democratic Labor Union Holding Press Conference on 27th to Announce Position Amid COVID-19 Surge and Continued Rallies

On the 23rd, when the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) forcibly held a rally in Wonju, union members were climbing a nearby hill after access to the National Health Insurance Service building in Wonju, Gangwon Province, the rally venue, was blocked.
The government announced that it would respond strictly if any violations of COVID-19 quarantine rules were found during the rally. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which recently held a series of large-scale rallies, is expected to announce its position on the recent ban on assemblies due to COVID-19 on the 27th.

On the 26th, the KCTU stated in a press release, "We will hold a press conference to announce our position at 10 a.m. on the 27th at the KCTU conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul."

The KCTU claimed, "Malicious framing is underway to spread the responsibility of the KCTU for the fourth wave of COVID-19 around the nationwide workers' rally," adding, "The government has formed a large-scale special investigation headquarters within the police and launched a massive public security crackdown on the KCTU. As of the 20th, 23 summonses have been issued to KCTU leadership and rally participants, and searches and seizures of mobile phones and other items are being excessively conducted."

The KCTU argued that it cannot be concluded that there is a connection between the July 3 nationwide workers' rally and the COVID-19 outbreak. They also stated that the three rally participants who tested positive were infected within their local communities.

The KCTU held a rally in downtown Seoul on the 3rd, attended by about 8,000 people. Amid rising criticism, the KCTU is expected to condemn the government's strong response to the rally and assert that the government should not shift the responsibility for the failure of COVID-19 prevention measures onto them.

In this regard, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a special investigation headquarters consisting of 52 members, led by the head of the investigation department, and has begun an investigation. The police have booked 23 organizers and key participants for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, general obstruction of traffic, and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Investigations are ongoing, including searches and seizures targeting some individuals such as Yang Kyung-soo, the chairman of the KCTU.