60,000 Attend KCTU Workers' Rally... Weekend Traffic Congestion Expected

Police Request Vehicle Detours and Use of Public Transportation on Sejong-daero and Euljiro

On May 1st, International Workers' Day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a global Labor Day rally on Sejong-daero in Seoul. Under themes such as labor rights without discrimination and securing quality jobs, simultaneous events took place in 16 regions nationwide, including Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that traffic inconveniences are expected in the downtown area in relation to the upcoming nationwide labor rally organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) scheduled for the weekend.

The KCTU plans to hold the main rally for one hour starting at 3 p.m. on the 2nd at Seoul Plaza, Sejong-daero, Euljiro, and other locations. Approximately 60,000 people are expected to gather for the rally. Through this rally, the KCTU intends to demand ▲ prevention of wage and working hours rollback ▲ abolition of irregular employment ▲ state responsibility for social publicness.

The police anticipate severe traffic congestion on Sejong-daero and Hangang-daero if the march proceeds toward Samgakji Station Rotary during the rally. Additionally, traffic delays are expected in the morning due to stage setup for the rally.

Accordingly, to minimize traffic congestion and inconvenience to citizens in the downtown area, the police will install 50 guide signboards around the rally and march routes and deploy about 500 personnel, including traffic police, to manage traffic by directing vehicle detours.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated, "Traffic congestion is expected in most downtown areas such as Sejong-daero and Euljiro, with particularly severe congestion anticipated around Hangang-daero," and urged, "Please use detours and public transportation such as the subway, and if driving is unavoidable, follow detour routes and the traffic police’s hand signals carefully."

Detailed traffic information can be checked via the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Traffic Information Hotline (700-5000), the Traffic Information Center website (www.spatic.go.kr), and KakaoTalk Seoul Police Traffic Information channel.