KCTU: "Government to Blame for COVID Spread... Why Shift Responsibility?"

by Yun Seulgi

Published 20 Jul.2021 08:00(KST)

Updated 20 Jul.2021 13:01(KST)

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Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), claimed that the government is shifting the responsibility for the spread of COVID-19 onto the KCTU. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), claimed that "the spread of COVID-19 is due to the government's failure in quarantine measures."

On the 19th, Yang Kyung-soo posted a statement on his Facebook, saying, "The quarantine authorities classified attendees of the KCTU rally as 'confirmed cases related to workplaces in Gangseo-gu,' stating that no infections through the rally have been confirmed," and added, "Nevertheless, the Prime Minister is leading the charge in labeling them as 'confirmed cases from the KCTU rally,' shifting the responsibility for the quarantine failure onto the KCTU."

Yang emphasized, "The KCTU ensured that symptomatic individuals undergo diagnostic testing, and the confirmed union member also followed the same guidelines to verify infection status," adding, "The spread of COVID-19 is due to the government's failure in quarantine, not because of workers' rallies."

He further stated, "Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19, the delegate meeting will be temporarily postponed," but announced that the planned general strike involving 1.1 million people scheduled for October 20 will proceed.

Earlier, on the 3rd, the KCTU held a surprise rally estimated by organizers to have about 8,000 participants in the Jongno area of Seoul. At that time, the Seoul city government and police had prohibited the rally due to concerns over COVID-19 spread, but the KCTU went ahead with the large-scale rally, resulting in three participants testing positive for COVID-19.