"Let Our Union Members Be Employed"... Police Investigation into Hundreds Gathering Amid COVID-19

Early morning on the 23rd, a rally near the construction site of Search Zone 7 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Due to social distancing guidelines amid the spread of COVID-19, gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited in the Seoul area. Nevertheless, construction union members from the two major labor federations held a rally with hundreds of participants, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to the police on the 29th, the Seoul Western Police Station is investigating the organizers and participants of the rally for gathering more than nine people at the Susaek 6 and 7 Redevelopment Promotion Zone housing redevelopment construction sites.

Members of the Construction Unions affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minjunochong) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (Hanguk Nochong) have been protesting at the Susaek construction sites since last year, demanding employment for union members affiliated with their respective federations. The number of rally participants has grown to several hundred at times. On the 9th and 19th, Eunpyeong-gu reported the participants and other unspecified individuals to the police for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

Earlier, on the 26th, 29 members of the Hanguk Nochong union who attempted to occupy the Susaek 6 District construction site were detained by the police on charges of trespassing.

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