Large-scale urban rallies by KCTU and others... Physical clashes including police assault occur

11 Arrested After Pushing Fence and Refusing to Disperse... Clash with Police

Yonhap News

On Saturday the 9th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and others held a large-scale outdoor rally in downtown Seoul criticizing the government. During the rally, physical clashes occurred, including participants assaulting police officers, resulting in the arrest of 11 rally participants.

According to the police on the 10th, the arrested participants occupied five lanes near Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace in Seoul around 4 p.m. during the 'National Workers' Rally and the 1st General Strike Rally for Resignation.'

The police issued a dispersal order, but the participants did not comply. Instead, they pushed police officers holding shields and metal fences and threatened by hitting police car windows with their hands, the police stated. Those arrested on-site on charges including obstruction of official duties were taken to Namdaemun Police Station and others.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency expressed strong regret through a press release, stating, "The KCTU rally has deteriorated into a serious illegal assembly," and added, "We will conduct a strict investigation, including applying for arrest warrants against those involved in illegal acts." Furthermore, all participants who disobeyed the dispersal order will be investigated through video evidence analysis, and the KCTU chairman is suspected of premeditating and inciting such illegal acts, with judicial action also being announced.

In response to the arrests of rally participants, the KCTU held a struggle for the release of union members in front of the police station where the participants were taken, starting from 9 p.m.

Following clashes with the police, the KCTU stated in a press release that "the police stormed the rally, provoked clashes, and carried out violent arrests," claiming that "about 100 people were transported to hospitals due to injuries such as broken ribs and respiratory distress." They vowed to "definitely bring down the Yoon Seok-yeol administration" and announced plans to hold another 'general strike' on the 20th of this month and the 7th of next month.

The rally was hosted by the 'Movement Headquarters for the Resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration,' which includes progressive groups such as the KCTU.

With an estimated 100,000 participants according to the KCTU and an unofficial police estimate of 30,000, they marched around Sejong-daero and the Sungnyemun area, chanting slogans demanding the resignation of the current government, criticizing its mismanagement.

Before the main rally, industrial unions held preliminary events at locations such as Seodaemun Intersection, Bosingak, and in front of the Jeon Tae-il statue at Cheonggyecheon, then marched through the Sejong-daero area.

Separately from the KCTU, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) also held the '2024 National Workers' Rally' in the Yeouido area of Yeongdeungpo-gu on the same day, criticizing the government's labor policies.

With an estimated 30,000 participants according to the FKTU and an unofficial police estimate of 17,000, they called for amendments to the so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act,' full application of the Labor Standards Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees, and strengthening of the Serious Accident Punishment Act.

A counter rally by conservative groups criticizing the opposition and progressive camps was also held.

The Korea Movement to Set the Republic Straight (Daegukbon) and the Liberty Unification Party, among other conservative groups, held a 'National Rally to Eradicate the Juche Faction' in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, shouting slogans such as "Disband the Democratic Party" and "Arrest Lee Jae-myung." The organizers reported 20,000 participants (with an unofficial police estimate of 15,000) and claimed that many more people attended.

Large-scale rallies across the city caused traffic congestion throughout Seoul. According to the Seoul City Traffic Information System, as of 5:30 p.m., the average vehicle speed in the downtown area was 7.1 km/h, and the overall average for Seoul was 17.8 km/h. Normally, on Saturdays between 5 and 6 p.m., the average speed in downtown is between 19 and 21 km/h.