Lee Eon-ju "When it was conservative groups, they put up barricades... Government's selective quarantine for union rallies"

"Why Can't the Minnocho Move at All?"
"Police Should Punish Using the Same Standards as the August 15 Rally," Urges Call

On the afternoon of the 3rd, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a nationwide workers' rally, occupying the road in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, demanding a complete revision of the labor law. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former lawmaker Lee Eonju of the United Future Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) criticized the government and ruling party on the 3rd for the sudden protest held by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in downtown Seoul, calling it "selective quarantine." He claimed that unlike last year's conservative groups' Liberation Day rally, the government is responding passively this time.

In a post on his Facebook on the 4th, former lawmaker Lee wrote, "Under the Moon Jae-in administration, didn't the police put up barricades and strictly crack down on conservative group rallies during the August 15th rally?" He added, "There were even cases where they talked about murder. So why on earth is everyone unable to move against the KCTU?"

He continued, "The Prime Minister and ministers are flustered, and the police and ruling party are at a loss, watching their every move. No matter how much stake they have in the Moon Jae-in administration's launch, where else is there such a master?"

He also criticized the KCTU, saying, "With the Delta variant active and confirmed cases rapidly increasing ahead of the vacation season, isn't this a time when nerves are already sensitive?" and "Citizens are more afraid of the KCTU than COVID-19. Only they don't realize how much inconvenience they are causing and how immersed they are in collective selfishness."

Former lawmaker Lee emphasized, "The police must crack down and punish fairly for violations of quarantine laws with the same standards as the previous August 15th rally."

Former Lee Eon-ju, United Future Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) member / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 3rd, the KCTU held a sudden protest and march for about two hours in the heart of Seoul. Initially, the KCTU planned to hold a nationwide workers' rally in Yeouido that day, but when the police blocked the area with barricades, they changed the rally location to the Jongno area.

According to the KCTU, about 8,000 people gathered for the protest, wearing hats, red headbands, and vests, chanting slogans such as "Abolish irregular employment," "Stop restructuring," and "Raise the minimum wage" as they marched.

Most union members participating in the protest wore masks, but social distancing was reportedly not adequately maintained. During the protest, the MC even asked, "You are standing too close together, please spread out to the sides."

The police issued three orders to disperse the rally to the KCTU under the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. However, the union members ignored these orders and continued discussions for about 30 minutes. Some clashes occurred between the police trying to disperse the rally and the protesters.

Meanwhile, after the rally ended that day, the police formed a Special Investigation Headquarters (SIH) and began a full-scale investigation, analyzing evidence collected from the participants.

The SIH plans to apply charges such as violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and general obstruction of traffic against the rally organizers and key participants.

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