Minju No Chong Announces Large-Scale Rally in Downtown Seoul on July 2

Police to Fully Respond to Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Rally

On May 1st, International Workers' Day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a global Labor Day rally on Sejong-daero in Seoul. The event, themed around labor rights without discrimination and securing quality jobs, took place simultaneously in 16 regions nationwide, including Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has declared that it will hold a large-scale rally in downtown Seoul on July 2.

On the 27th, the KCTU held a press conference at the KCTU Education Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, titled "Press Conference to Declare the KCTU July 2 Nationwide Workers' Rally Condemning the Yoon Seok-yeol Government's Anti-Labor Policies."

The KCTU criticized the Yoon administration for accelerating anti-labor policies. The KCTU stated, "On the 13th, the Yoon government presented four major economic management principles: 'freedom, fairness, innovation, and solidarity,' which fully embody pro-chaebol and anti-labor policies. These policies promote exclusion and discrimination against workers and exacerbate social polarization."

Furthermore, they announced plans to hold a large-scale rally at 3 p.m. on July 2, demanding an increase in the minimum wage. Approximately 70,000 people are expected to gather at Seoul Plaza and then march to Samgakji Rotary, near the Yongsan Presidential Office. The KCTU urged, "In a time of soaring prices and economic crisis, we demand a substantial increase in workers' wages and the minimum wage, along with effective price stabilization measures to alleviate the hardships of ordinary citizens. The government must also strengthen its responsibility for social insurance and take action to resolve issues related to irregular workers."

They also criticized the police's prohibition notice against the rally. Earlier, on the 22nd, the KCTU revealed that the police had prohibited the July 2 rally citing concerns over traffic congestion. The KCTU stated, "The repeated and unreasonable denial of assembly rights, which denies the basic rights of citizens, cannot be seen as an independent judgment by the police. In a democratic country, the freedom of assembly and demonstration is a fundamental right of the people, and there is no law or principle that operates assemblies and demonstrations on a permit basis."

The police plan to respond with full force to the KCTU rally. They have established a response policy including strict action against illegal activities and active blocking of acts that interfere with the functions of key facilities, and plan to mobilize the nationwide situation management permanent units to the maximum extent. The size of the nationwide situation management permanent units is up to 140 companies.