First Large-Scale Rally by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Since Yoon Administration Inauguration... Traffic Paralysis in Downtown Seoul

Nationwide Workers' Rally in Scorching 33-Degree Heat
March to Samgakji Amidst Personnel and Time Restrictions... Police to Strictly Respond to Illegal Acts

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held its first large-scale rally since the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, demanding the abolition of irregular workers and other issues. Traffic in downtown Seoul was paralyzed due to the KCTU's rally and march.

At around 3:30 p.m. on the 2nd, the KCTU held the "7·2 National Workers' Rally" around Seoul Plaza. About 50,000 union members attended the rally. Despite the scorching heat exceeding 33 degrees Celsius, they held placards reading "Stop labor reform" and "Workers are dying," shouting slogans.

At the main rally, they defined the Yoon administration's labor reform as a "labor deterioration." Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, said in his keynote speech, "The government ignores workers and is one with conglomerates and large corporations," adding, "If their shackles are loosened and freedom is given, their greedy teeth will bite the workers."

They also criticized issues related to irregular workers and soaring prices. Chairman Yang said, "There are 10 million irregular workers, but there is not a single word or any measures; through privatization and outsourcing, they are trying to make this a country of irregular workers," adding, "Everything except wages is rising, interest bombs on loans, and a world full of sighs in shopping baskets."

This National Workers' Rally is the first large-scale rally led by the KCTU at the confederation level since the inauguration of the Yoon administration. It is also the largest scale since the 2016 People's General Strike demanding the resignation of the Park Geun-hye administration. Because of this, traffic congestion and other issues were inevitable in the city center.

The police mobilized a total of 120 units and over 10,000 personnel that day. Regarding legality, the police plan to respond strictly by deploying available personnel and equipment. On the 30th of last month, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, said, "We will guarantee the reported rallies as much as possible, but if they deviate from the reported scope or exceed the court's permitted range, we will respond strictly."

After finishing the main rally at Seoul Plaza, about 26,000 union members marched toward the vicinity of Samgakji. They announced that they would divide their routes into three: Sungnyemun?Seoul Station?Samgakji, Daehanmun?Seoul Station?Samgakji, and Seoul Plaza?Seoul Station?Samgakji, using three lanes excluding bus-only lanes. Earlier, the police had prohibited the KCTU's march near Samgakji, but the Seoul Administrative Court allowed it the day before. However, the maximum number of participants in the march was set at 30,000, and the march time was designated until 6:30 p.m.