In various parts of downtown Seoul, rallies were held to condemn President Yoon Seok-yeol's exercise of the veto power on the Yellow Envelope Act (Amendment to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) and to urge the expansion of public healthcare.
The Seoul Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Movement Headquarters for Creating Good Public Hospitals, and others held the "Resolution Rally for the Resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime in the Seoul Area" on the afternoon of the 24th at Seoul Station Plaza in Jung-gu. After concluding the rally at Seoul Station Plaza, the groups marched to the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu.
They stated, "Seeing a president who casually rejects livelihood bills that reflect the will of the people makes it difficult to expect him to stop the destruction of people's livelihoods and bow to the citizens."
They emphasized, "The resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime is inevitable to prevent the regression of labor rights and publicness, which should be the pillars of our lives, and to move forward again."
Lee Seo-young, Secretary General of the Movement Headquarters for Creating Good Public Hospitals, criticized at the rally, "The situation of residents in medically vulnerable areas is at the brink. Many residents in these areas, when infected with COVID-19, had no hospital beds available and had to be transported by ambulance over mountains and rivers to public hospitals."
Meanwhile, the Candlelight Action is scheduled to hold a rally near Sungnyemun and Seoul City Hall around 6 p.m. on the same day, calling for President Yoon's resignation and a special investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee.
The National Movement Headquarters for Setting the Republic of Korea Right held a rally in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the same day, demanding the arrest of former President Moon Jae-in and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
