Self-Employed Workers Taking to the Streets at Midnight... "Does the Government Not Hear Our Cries for Help?" (Comprehensive)

Self-Employed Groups Hold Nighttime Vehicle Protest on 15th
Procession Moves Locations Due to Checkpoints Set Up Everywhere
National Self-Employed Emergency Committee: "We Begged for Help but They Won't Even Talk"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Self-employed business owners held a nighttime vehicle protest on the 15th in opposition to the government's quarantine policies.

The "National Emergency Countermeasures Committee for Self-Employed in Response to COVID-19" (Emergency Committee), which consists of self-employed groups from various industries, held a press conference near Yeouido Park in Seoul around 11:30 PM the previous day, then conducted individual vehicle protests across downtown Seoul for about an hour.

The Emergency Committee originally planned a vehicle protest involving about 500 vehicles around Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall areas, but as the police set up checkpoints in various parts of the city including the southern end of Seogang Bridge and Yeouido area, making gathering difficult, they changed the assembly point to near Hyehwa Station. Then, vehicles arriving first turned on their hazard lights and formed a procession to conduct individual protests.

Near the assembly point, heavy traffic congestion occurred due to the concentration of vehicles. Although police control prevented a large-scale gathering, sporadic vehicle protest processions continued around Hyehwa Station until 1 AM. Some participants sounded their horns in an ‘SOS signal’ to express a plea to save self-employed business owners. There were no major clashes between the protesters and the police.

Before the vehicle protest, the Emergency Committee held a press conference near Yeouido Park criticizing the government’s quarantine policies. Kim Ki-hong, co-representative of the National Emergency Countermeasures Committee for Self-Employed, said, "For one and a half years, the government has only told self-employed people to wait and forced sacrifices," adding, "We begged to be saved, but the government has yet to even engage in dialogue." They also demanded easing of quarantine rules and prompt retroactive application of compensation for losses.

Choi Seung-jae, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party and former president of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations, also spoke at the podium, saying, "Self-employed business owners have actively cooperated with national policies, but instead of fair compensation, they have been driven to close their businesses and faced threats to their families, workplaces, and livelihoods," and added, "Despite this, no one has properly stood up for them, causing doubts about the very reason for the existence of the state."

Earlier, the police had classified these groups’ nighttime vehicle protests as unreported illegal demonstrations and announced a strict response policy. They also stated they would conduct thorough investigations into any illegal acts occurring during the vehicle protests.

The Emergency Committee plans to hold similar vehicle protests again starting at midnight on the 16th. In the afternoon, they will hold a press conference around the Government Seoul Office and then proceed with a third vehicle protest. Previously, the Emergency Committee declared their refusal to comply with quarantine measures, demanding ▲unequal quarantine rule changes ▲clarification of the content and scope of compensation for losses ▲freezing or reduction of the minimum wage.

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