<기사>KCTU Gathers 5,000 Near Yongsan Office... "We Will Fight Against the Yoon Government"

March Toward Sungnyemun... Traffic Congestion Inevitable

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) declared that it would intensify its struggle against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration by gathering near the Yongsan Presidential Office.

On the 24th, the KCTU held the "9.24 Nationwide Simultaneous Resolution Rally" around 1 p.m. in front of Exit 3 of Samgakji Station near the Yongsan Presidential Office. This rally, held simultaneously in 13 regions nationwide, drew an estimated 7,000 participants according to the organizers and 5,000 according to the police in Seoul alone. Police deployed 3,000 officers from 40 companies nationwide. After holding the resolution rally for about an hour, they marched toward Sungnyemun in Seoul, where the "9.24 Climate Justice March" took place.

The rally was held ahead of the nationwide workers' rally scheduled for November 12, where 100,000 KCTU members are expected to gather. The KCTU reaffirmed its determination for the nationwide workers' rally by declaring a struggle. The KCTU stated, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration is pursuing policies that emphasize labor power even more in the world's longest working hours environment," adding, "Policies such as flexible working hours and the introduction of performance-based pay systems cannot guarantee workers' safety and right to survival."

Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the KCTU, said in his opening remarks, "More serious than President Yoon's harsh remarks are the labor law revisions and privatization," adding, "We cannot live like this. We will fight against the Yoon administration, which intends to be loyal to conglomerates and capital through privatization and deregulation."

The resolution rally was also attended by 24 union members and climate activists from 16 countries, including France, Chile, and Argentina, showing solidarity. Fabien Houssi, Central Executive Committee member of the French General Confederation of Labour, emphasized, "Unions in Korea and many countries around the world are having their freedom to unionize infringed upon," adding, "In a situation where capitalism is cornering us, we must change the balance of power so that workers and the people can gain the upper hand."

However, the rally caused traffic congestion. On the 20th, the court accepted the KCTU's injunction request to suspend the enforcement of the assembly ban notice. As a result, even before the rally began, bus-only lanes and six lanes toward Seoul Station were controlled, and the KCTU occupied all lanes in the direction of the rally to hold the event.