"Isn't It the Minnocho Virus?" Citizens' Outrage Over COVID-19 Spread

Despite Appeals from Kim Bu-gyeom and Jeong Eun-kyeong, Over 8,000 Hold Rally in Downtown Seoul
Health Authorities: "Difficult to See Large-Scale Infection Impact from KCTU Rally"
Strong Criticism from Politicians and Citizens... "Was It Really Necessary to Hold the Rally?" Anger
KCTU: "We Will Do Our Best to Manage Rally Participants"

On the afternoon of the 3rd, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions occupied the road in Jongno 3-ga, holding a nationwide workers' rally demanding a complete revision of the labor law. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "This is really too much," "We should endure a bit during the COVID-19 situation."

As the number of COVID-19 cases rapidly increases and Level 4 social distancing measures are applied, citizens are expressing strong dissatisfaction over the sudden rally held last week by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). Although health authorities stated that there is no confirmed link between the KCTU rally and the current COVID-19 spread, citizens are outraged. Criticism is mounting that the rally was forcibly held despite government calls to refrain from gatherings during the COVID-19 crisis.

Earlier, on the 3rd, the KCTU held a large-scale rally in downtown Seoul with about 8,000 participants (according to the rally organizers). Following this, daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea surged past 1,000, sparking debates over responsibility for the rally.

Kim, a man in his 30s working at a company, said, "I am not against rallies themselves," but raised his voice, saying, "COVID-19 is not gone yet, so this seems a bit too much." He added, "Shouldn't they hold off a little and wait until COVID-19 calms down?"

Park, a restaurant owner in his 50s running a business in a busy area of Seoul, sighed and said, "I can only sigh. Even if we point it out, they ignore it anyway." He continued, "Self-employed people like us are already struggling terribly these days, and if they hold rallies like that, customers won't come even more."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is visiting the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions together with Jung Eun-kyeong, Chair of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, to request restraint from large-scale weekend rallies, considering the critical moment at which the spread of COVID-19 stands.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The KCTU held a large-scale rally suddenly last week. Prior to this, on the 2nd, the day before the rally, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum visited the KCTU together with Jeong Eun-kyeong, Chair of the Central Disease Control Headquarters. At that meeting, Prime Minister Kim and others requested the KCTU to refrain from holding the rally, considering the critical moment amid the spread of COVID-19.

However, on the 3rd, starting at 2 p.m., union members gathered near Jongno 3-ga Station and proceeded with the rally. Participants took hats, red headbands, and vests out of their bags, wore them, and marched holding placards toward Jongno Tower Building in Jongno 2-ga. Most wore masks, but social distancing was not adequately observed. It was easy to see them standing closely packed together.

This sparked criticism in the political sphere as well. Yoo Seung-min, a former member of the People Power Party and a presidential candidate from the opposition, wrote on his Facebook on the 6th, saying, "The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) must be held strictly accountable" regarding the fourth wave of COVID-19.

Yoo criticized, "Last Saturday (the 3rd), when there were concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the KCTU forcibly held a rally with 10,000 people in the heart of Seoul, and three days later, today at 6 p.m., confirmed cases exceeded 1,000 for the first time in six months."

On the 3rd, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a nationwide workers' rally while occupying the road, demanding a complete revision of the labor law.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th, saying, "It was extremely selfish and irresponsible, and an issue that cannot be overlooked in terms of the safety of the majority of the people and COVID-19 prevention."

He continued, "Last weekend, confirmed cases surged to 794, and experts warned of a large-scale spread, yet the illegal rally of about 8,000 KCTU members was forcibly held in the middle of Jongno without observing social distancing," adding, "If the fourth wave worsens further, it will be the responsibility of both the government and the KCTU."

Ahn also raised his voice holding the government responsible for failing to prevent the illegal rally. He said, "The Presidential Secretary said the 'rally organizers in Gwanghwamun are murderers,' an extreme remark, and the government blocked Gwanghwamun with barricades to completely prevent gatherings," and criticized, "Does COVID-19 spread more at rallies criticizing the government, while rallies by pro-government forces avoid it?"

Meanwhile, on the 8th, the KCTU issued a statement titled 'Interim Briefing on the July 3 National Workers' Rally,' emphasizing that there have been "no confirmed COVID-19 infections among participants as of six days after the event," in response to political circles raising responsibility for the recent COVID-19 spread linked to the large-scale rally last weekend.

The KCTU stated, "We will remain vigilant until next week and do our best to monitor and manage the participants of the July 3 rally," and added, "Those summoned by the police will attend according to their schedules and respond confidently and sincerely to the investigations."

They also said, "Influential politicians such as former People Power Party member Yoo Seung-min and Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil are connecting COVID-19 spread with the National Workers' Rally, as if the responsibility lies with the KCTU, and are making irresponsible remarks. They should take responsibility for their statements based on the final results in the future."

Meanwhile, health authorities have drawn a line regarding the recent large-scale COVID-19 infections and the KCTU downtown rally. The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) stated in a response submitted on the 9th to Kim Mi-ae, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, that "it is difficult to see that the KCTU rally influenced the recent large-scale infections." The CDCH explained, "So far, no confirmed cases related to the KCTU rally have been identified," and "we are monitoring the situation closely."

Regarding this, Representative Kim criticized, "After last year's Liberation Day rally, a full investigation of participants was conducted, but the government is turning a blind eye to this KCTU rally," calling it "political quarantine."

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