Gwangju-Jeonnam Labor Groups: "Impeach and Detain Yoon, Disband People Power Party"

Over 700 Union Members Participate in Front of Gwangju City Party Office of the People Power Party
Democratic Party Gwangju City and District Councilors Also Hold a 'Silent Protest'

Members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch and the Kia Motors Branch Gwangju Chapter held a rally at 3 p.m. on the 11th in front of the People Power Party Gwangju Office in Seo-gu, where participants held signs reading "Disband the People Power Party, Accomplices in Treason, Immediately." Photo by Song Bohyun

The labor unions in Gwangju and Jeonnam demanded the immediate impeachment and arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol, as well as the dissolution of the pro-rebellion People Power Party.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union and the Gwangju branch of the Kia Motors Union held a rally in front of the People Power Party’s Gwangju city office in Seo-gu, Gwangju, at 3 p.m. on the 11th, with about 700 participants.

They held placards reading "Arrest the ringleader of the rebellion immediately" and "Dissolve the People Power Party, accomplices in the rebellion," shouting slogans such as "The people will win. Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol."

On this day, the unions stated, "Yoon Seok-yeol’s personal coup, which trampled on the constitution and pointed guns at the people, is a crime that must be immediately isolated," and claimed, "The People Power Party, which abstained from the impeachment vote, is an accomplice."

More than 700 members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch and the Kia Motors Branch Gwangju Chapter are shouting slogans at a rally in front of the People Power Party Gwangju Office on the afternoon of the 11th. Photo by Song Bohyun

Jung Jun-hyun, head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Metal Workers' Union, pointed out, "If the People Power Party’s Gwangju city office intends to engage in politics here, shouldn’t they have at least expressed support for impeachment, even if the party’s official stance is opposition?"

He added, "Protecting one person's labor rights is protecting democracy in our society," emphasizing, "We will lead the struggle to arrest and impeach Yoon Seok-yeol, the ringleader of the rebellion, dissolve the People Power Party that sympathizes with him, and achieve democracy and social reform that fully realize labor rights."

The union also announced that, in addition to their planned protests in Seoul, about 20,000 union members from the Metal Workers' Union in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region will participate in weekday and weekend rallies held at the May 18th Democratic Square.

Meanwhile, on the same day, city and district council members and party officials affiliated with the Democratic Party held a silent protest in front of the People Power Party’s Gwangju city office. After about 30 minutes of silence, the Democratic Party side shouted slogans such as "Arrest Yoon Seok-yeol, the ringleader of the 12·3 rebellion."