野 "Are Progressive Protesters Coronavirus-Free?" Harsh Criticism... Protest Against Allowing Minnochoong Rally

Ha Tae-kyung "Moon Government Completely Blocked National Foundation Day Rally, But Allows Korean Confederation of Trade Unions"
Government "KCTU Says It Will Actively Cooperate with Quarantine Rules"

On the morning of the 4th, in front of the National Assembly, Kim Jae-ha, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), along with other committee members, is holding a resolution ceremony at the KCTU's "Stop Labor Deterioration! Achieve the Jeon Tae-il 3 Laws! National Assembly Sit-in Protest Press Conference." / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] On the 14th, a mass rally involving 100,000 people is scheduled to take place nationwide, led by labor and civic groups, amid which the opposition party criticized the government's level of response. This criticism stems from the government not taking a hardline stance, unlike during last month's conservative group-led rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

On the 13th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced plans to hold labor rallies across the country on the 14th.

In a notice on the day, the KCTU stated, "To commemorate the 50th anniversary of martyr Jeon Tae-il, we will hold nationwide labor rallies this weekend," adding, "We will resist the government's labor reforms under the pretext of ratifying the International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions, which are intensifying, and reaffirm our determination to achieve the 'Jeon Tae-il 3 Laws' proposed by 100,000 union members and citizens."

This labor rally will be held simultaneously in 14 cities and provinces nationwide, excluding Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Sejong. This is to prevent too many people from gathering in one specific location in order to comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Earlier, the Seoul city government and police authorities stated on the 12th that since the rally organizers agreed to strictly follow the current quarantine rules, no separate ban measures would be taken.

On the morning of October 3rd, National Foundation Day, police buses lined up on the Gwanghwamun road in Seoul to block sudden rallies and demonstrations. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, the opposition party pointed out that such measures are unfair. They argue that compared to the government’s issuance of an administrative order banning gatherings of more than 10 people and deploying over 300 police buses to block Gwanghwamun Square during the government criticism rally led by conservative groups on October 3rd, these measures are weak.

On the 13th, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "The Moon Jae-in government, which blocked the October 3rd rally to prevent the spread of COVID-19, now says it will allow all KCTU rallies held across Seoul tomorrow," criticizing, "If the permission for rallies fluctuates depending on who the participants are, how can any citizen trust and follow the government's quarantine measures?"

Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and head of the People Power Party’s Songpa-byeong district in Seoul, sarcastically pointed out on Facebook that "The anti-government protesters on October 3rd were COVID-19 'carriers,' but the protesters at the November 14th mass rally must be COVID-19 'germ-free'."

He added, "This is politics of division and hostility that splits the people into two, politics of discrimination and exclusion that favors our side and suppresses the other," and criticized, "This is ultimately why the Moon Jae-in administration will collapse."

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' Quarantine General Division / Photo by Yonhap News

Amid growing controversy, the government explained that the rally was allowed "due to the organizers' willingness to actively cooperate."

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the morning of the day, "Group events with more than 500 people must consult with local governments," adding, "Yesterday, the KCTU and the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' living quarantine team held a phone consultation, conveyed concerns that might arise, and requested basic quarantine measures."

He continued, "The KCTU expressed active cooperation, and the quarantine authorities sent an official letter regarding compliance with quarantine rules such as wearing masks, maintaining distance between participants, managing attendance lists, and banning singing."

However, he emphasized that appropriate measures could follow if quarantine rules are violated during the rally.

Yoon explained, "Currently, if quarantine rules are violated, participants face a fine of 100,000 KRW each, and rally organizers face a fine of 3 million KRW," adding, "If many confirmed cases occur due to poor compliance with quarantine rules, corresponding legal actions will be taken simultaneously."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.