On the 31st, a general strike rally to stop labor oppression by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is being held in Sejong-ro, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 31st, a large-scale rally with up to 20,000 participants, hosted by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), took place in downtown Seoul. The event proceeded in the order of a preliminary rally from 2 PM·main rally·and a nighttime rally. The rally concluded around 8:22 PM when the KCTU voluntarily dispersed following a police request for dispersal. Just before the nighttime rally, the KCTU clashed with police after suddenly setting up a memorial altar for Yang Hee-dong, a construction union official who died by self-immolation. During the police’s forced removal of the altar, four union members who assaulted police officers were arrested on charges of obstructing official duties.
The preliminary rallies began at 2 PM at three locations in downtown Seoul. The Southern Metropolitan Headquarters of the Construction Union held a government condemnation rally near the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with about 5,000 participants. The Northern Metropolitan Headquarters held a similar rally in front of the Seoul Employment and Labor Office main building in Jung-gu, Seoul, also with about 5,000 participants. Approximately 2,500 members of the Metalworkers’ Union held a general strike resolution rally in front of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
Due to these rallies, 2 to 5 lanes were closed on the following sections: Hangang-daero from Samgakji Station to Sookmyung Women’s University Station, Samil-daero from the Employment and Labor Office to IBK Industrial Bank, and Tongil-ro from Seodaemun Station to the National Police Agency.
After the preliminary rallies, about 20,000 KCTU members gathered at Daehanmun Gate at 4 PM for the main rally, a warning strike resolution meeting, demanding an apology for the Yang incident and a halt to union suppression.
The KCTU had originally reported that the rally would last until 5 PM. As the rally extended, the police warned around 5:12 PM, stating, "The rally time has passed, so from now on it will be considered an illegal rally and legal procedures will be initiated."
Although some participants jeered, the organizers encouraged dispersal, and the rally ended voluntarily around 5:22 PM. During the rally, 4 to 5 lanes on Sejong-daero from Daehanmun Gate to Donghwa Duty-Free Shop were closed.
Before the nighttime rally, around 6:35 PM, the KCTU urgently set up a memorial altar for Yang in front of the Seoul Finance Center near Cheonggye Plaza, leading to clashes with police. At the request of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, police attempted to forcibly remove the altar, resulting in physical confrontations between police and union members.
The police arrested four union members on charges of obstructing official duties for interfering with the removal and assaulting officers. The KCTU stated that four union members were injured, three of whom were transported to the hospital.
From 7 PM, the KCTU forcibly held a nighttime rally in front of the Seoul Finance Center where the altar was set up, titled the "Yang Hoe-dong Martyr Memorial Candlelight Cultural Festival."
The KCTU had initially planned to finish the rally by 8 PM and then march to the National Police Agency. However, fearing further clashes with police, the march was canceled and the rally was ultimately dispersed.
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