Democratic Labor Union Rally with '20,000 Participants' in Downtown Seoul, Police Immediately Launch Investigation

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held the "10·20 KCTU General Strike Rally" at the Seodaemun Station intersection in Seoul on the 20th, urging the "abolition of discrimination against workplaces with fewer than five employees, elimination of irregular employment, and securing the right to union activities for all workers." Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The police have immediately launched an investigation into the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which forcibly held an illegal rally with more than 20,000 union members despite the ban on assemblies.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 20th, "Despite the government's call to withdraw the strike and the police and Seoul city's ban on assemblies due to the risk of infectious disease spread in the metropolitan area, the organizers and key participants of the large-scale illegal rally held around Seodaemun Station and other downtown areas have been investigated."

On the same day, the Seoul Police formed a '10. 20. Illegal Protest Investigation Headquarters' consisting of 67 members, led by the head of the investigation department. The headquarters plans to summon the organizers to the police station on the day.

The Seoul Police stated, "We will promptly and strictly investigate the organizers who forcibly held illegal rallies and marches for a long time in downtown areas, as well as those responsible for illegal acts, applying charges without exception such as violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, obstruction of general traffic, and violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act."

The KCTU held rallies in 14 regions nationwide, including the intersection near Seodaemun Station in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, aiming to abolish irregular employment, eliminate discrimination against workplaces with fewer than five employees, and strengthen the public nature of education, medical care, and housing.

On the day, the Seoul Police informed citizens about road traffic conditions and control zones through broadcasters, navigation companies, Seoul City Traffic Information Center, subway station announcements, posting flyers, and installing signboards.

In consultation with Seoul City, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the scheduled time of the KCTU rally, five subway stations including Gwanghwamun Station and 27 bus stops (88 routes) were planned to be passed without stopping; however, to minimize citizen inconvenience, this was implemented only from 12:30 PM to 2:10 PM.