Self-Employed Workers: "Government Irresponsible, Blaming Only Self-Employed... Will Hold Large-Scale Rally"

O Se-hee (left), president of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, along with co-chairmen of the Self-Employed Emergency Committee, held a press conference on the 8th in front of the tent protest site set up at Sejongno Park near the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the relaxation of quarantine guidelines and compensation for losses. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Self-employed groups have announced plans to hold a large-scale rally in protest against the government's strengthened social distancing measures.

The National Emergency Response Committee of Self-Employed for COVID-19 announced on the 15th that it will hold a large-scale rally at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the 22nd to oppose the government's quarantine policies.

The committee stated, "When announcing the transition to With Corona, the government confidently declared that it would no longer be swayed by the rapid increase in confirmed cases and would focus on managing severe cases and deaths," and questioned, "What policy efforts has the government made over the course of two years to secure hospital beds and increase medical personnel?"

They also warned, "Why is the government's and quarantine authorities' irresponsibility being shifted solely onto the self-employed?" and added, "Breaking our silence and taking steps again is entirely due to their neglect, which will be clearly seen through this protest."

The committee is demanding the abolition of the vaccine pass and business restrictions, and opposes the expansion of the Labor Standards Act to apply to businesses with fewer than five employees. It is known that other self-employed groups, including the Small Business Federation, will also participate in this rally.

Meanwhile, the government officially announced on the same day its plan to halt the recovery of daily life and return to "high-intensity social distancing." Detailed measures will be announced on the 17th and are expected to be implemented for two weeks until the end of the year.