Guarantee of Labor Rights and Minimum Wage Increase Demand
Democratic Labor Union: "We Will Oust the Yoon Administration"
Jeonjangyeon Joins After Subway Protest
On Labor Day, May 1st, labor organizations held rallies across downtown areas such as Gwanghwamun and Yeouido in Seoul. An estimated 33,000 union members participated in the rallies organized by the two major labor federations, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU).
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) are calling for the resignation of the Yoon Suk-yeol government and the guarantee of labor rights at the 2024 International Workers' Day rally held on the 1st in the Gwanghwamun area of Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The KCTU held the "2024 International Labor Day Rally" at 2 p.m. in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop at the Sejong-daero intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul, calling for the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, protection of labor rights, passage of the Yellow Envelope Act, and an increase in the minimum wage.
The KCTU played a video showing the late Yang Hoe-dong, a construction union official who self-immolated in the parking lot of the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch last year to protest union suppression before his detention hearing, along with his will, and chanted slogans such as "Let us inherit the spirit of martyr Yang Hoe-dong" to carry on his legacy.
Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, said, "During the two years of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the lives of workers in our society have plunged into the abyss. Martyr Yang Hoe-dong, who was slandered as a thug and extortionist, set himself on fire to protect his dignity."
He added, "The administration that ignored public sentiment has received the stern judgment of the people but shows no remorse," and said, "We will definitely drive out the Yoon Seok-yeol administration with our own strength."
An estimated 25,000 participants filled six lanes over a 600-meter stretch from in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop to Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace. The participants ended the rally around 3:30 p.m. and marched 1.2 km to the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu before dispersing.
On the 1st, members of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) listened to Chairman Kim Dong-myeong's opening address at the 134th World Labor Day National Workers' Rally held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) also held the "134th International Labor Day National Workers' Rally" at 2 p.m. in front of the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. They raised their voices demanding the promotion of amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act (Yellow Envelope Act), the achievement of a four-day workweek, and the cessation of attempts to apply differentiated minimum wages. The rally, held on four lanes of Uisadang-daero, was attended by an estimated 8,000 people according to the organizers.
Kim Dong-myung, chairman of the FKTU, said, "In the last general election, the people showed a clear decision to judge the administration," and added, "The only way for the Yoon Seok-yeol government to complete its remaining three-year term is to heed public sentiment, abandon anti-labor policies, and fundamentally change its national policy direction."
Earlier, five unions including the Construction Union under the KCTU held preliminary rallies from around noon at various locations such as in front of the Seodaemun Police Agency and then joined the main rally.
Jang Ok-gi, chairman of the Construction Union, criticized at the preliminary rally, "Martyr Yang Hoe-dong appealed through self-immolation against coercive investigations," and said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has suppressed the Construction Union most viciously under the name of labor reform to boost its approval ratings."
Additionally, the Construction Union announced that it filed a damages lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court regarding the leak of CCTV footage showing Yang’s self-immolation to the media.
The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a 'die-in' protest at Gwanghwamun Station on Subway Line 5 on May 1, Labor Day, demanding the reinstatement of dismissed disabled workers. This act involves lying down as if dead to protest against discrimination. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Disability rights groups such as the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (NSADD) also held protests from the morning to mark Labor Day.
They raised slogans condemning the dismissal of 400 severely disabled public-centered job workers in Seoul and began a "die-in" protest at 8 a.m. on the platform of Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5, lying down as if dead. They then held a rally at the transfer passage of City Hall Station before joining the KCTU rally.
During the rally joining and march, there were minor clashes with the police. The police blocked the way, claiming that the KCTU refused the NSADD’s participation, leading to a scuffle, but the KCTU clarified that they never blocked NSADD’s participation, and the situation was resolved.
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