Ahead of the General Strike, "Minpye Nochong" vs. "Justified Struggle"... What Do You Think?

Conflicting Opinions on KCTU General Strike
Self-Employed and Student Groups Say "Nuisance Ahead of With Corona"
Progressive Parties: "Many Workers Still in Harsh Conditions... Government Must Listen"
Government Announces Strict Response to General Strike

National Workers' Rally held in downtown Seoul on July 3 this year [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] "'Minpae No-chong' has become the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), we condemn it," "The freedom of assembly and demonstration for workers and the right to strike must be guaranteed."

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced a general strike on the 20th. Five progressive parties including the Justice Party and civic, social, and labor organizations in the Incheon area supported the KCTU's strike, emphasizing that striking is an inherent right of workers and that workers are being pushed into crisis due to the COVID-19 disaster. However, among self-employed people and university students, there is opposition to the large-scale strike amid high expectations for "daily life recovery" ahead of the November With Corona (gradual return to normal life) phase, due to concerns about mass infections.

The KCTU demands the abolition of discrimination against workplaces with fewer than five employees and irregular workers, securing the right of all workers to unionize, securing public services in care, medical, education, housing, and transportation, and establishing a national responsibility system for jobs during industrial transition. It announced that 550,000 members, about half of the total estimated 1.1 million union members, will participate in the general strike.

The government has requested restraint from the general strike. President Moon Jae-in held a weekly meeting on the 18th to discuss the response plan to the KCTU general strike, saying, "Currently, the quarantine situation is entering a relatively stable phase, and the entire nation is united in preparing for the November daily life recovery, a critical moment," and added, "I hope the KCTU will exercise maximum restraint in striking from a magnanimous perspective."

He also instructed Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum to "prepare countermeasures focusing on areas closely related to citizens' lives such as school meals and care in case the general strike is executed, and strictly handle illegal acts such as violations of quarantine rules."

On the afternoon of the 18th, large posters titled "The Thoughtless General Strike of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Creates an Unequal World!" and "Do Not Choose Self-Employment," written by the National Council of University Student Representatives and the Self-Employment Solidarity, were posted on the bulletin board on the campus of Seoul National University.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Moreover, concerns have been raised among university student groups and self-employed people that the strike could negatively affect the With Corona phase. On the morning of the 18th, the New National University Student Representatives Council (Shinjeon Daehyeop) and about 200 self-employed people forming the "Self-Employed Solidarity" posted large protest posters on 113 university campuses nationwide, including Seoul National University, Pusan National University, and Jeonbuk National University, condemning the KCTU's strike with the phrase "The inconsiderate general strike of the 'Minpae No-chong' creates an unequal society."

Shinjeon Daehyeop stated in the posters, "While all citizens are suffering from COVID-19, the KCTU is planning a general strike and a massive rally of 550,000 people in the city center," and asked, "Where has the 'Jeon Tae-il spirit' they used to shout gone?"

They continued, "The KCTU has established itself as an omnipotent political power based on 1.1 million union members," and criticized, "We address the KCTU that has become the 'Minpae No-chong.' Stop the tyranny that creates an unequal society."

The Self-Employed Solidarity, a self-employed group, also strongly condemned the KCTU's behavior, saying, "The KCTU's reckless collective action ahead of With Corona ignores the wishes of 7 million self-employed people and is unforgivable," and added, "The KCTU has instead resolved to a 'general strike across all sectors of daily life,' holding the lives of the people hostage." This is a criticism of the decision to proceed with a general strike amid high expectations for daily life recovery and concerns about large-scale infections.

On the 18th, a joint press conference of progressive parties supporting the general strike of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was held in front of the National Assembly main building in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, there are voices supporting the KCTU's strike, saying that a general strike is inevitable to resolve social inequality caused by the COVID-19 disaster. On the 18th, five progressive parties?the Justice Party, Progressive Party, Green Party, Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party, and Labor Party?held a joint press conference in front of the National Assembly main building and declared support for the KCTU general strike.

The five progressive parties said, "Workers are desperate," and urged the government to listen to workers' voices, stating, "In the flow of industrial transition, many workers are trying to join the strike: metalworkers making cars and ships and melting steel, public sector irregular workers who hoped for the declaration of zero irregular workers but were betrayed, construction workers who still die from falls and falling objects, mart workers who are fired by capital that only takes the profits and runs away, and school irregular workers who face daily discrimination at school."

Meanwhile, about 90 civic, social, and labor organizations in the Incheon area also declared support for the KCTU general strike and lent their strength. On the same day, they held a press conference in front of the Incheon City Hall main building, saying, "Behind the rosy achievements the government boasts of, there are workers dying every day, youth driven to suicide, self-employed and small business owners forced into suspension and closure, their blood, sweat, and death," and added, "If you think coldly, quarantine is important, but citizens' democratic claims are also an inalienable right. The freedom of assembly and demonstration and the right to strike for workers must be guaranteed."

They also added, "During the July rally, the KCTU not only strictly followed quarantine guidelines but also actively cooperated with quarantine authorities' requests," and "No positive cases resulted from that rally." They argued that the government's demand to withdraw the general strike citing quarantine rules lacks persuasiveness.

On the morning of the 19th, participants are shouting slogans at the "Press Conference of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Demanding Guarantee of the General Strike Rally and the Release of Chairman Yang Kyung-soo" held in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, on the 19th, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) held at the Government Complex Sejong, strongly urged regarding the KCTU general strike, saying, "I strongly urge one last time," and emphasized, "Please withdraw the general strike plan even now."

Prime Minister Kim said, "If the general strike is carried out, the government will have no choice but to respond strictly according to law and principles regardless of status for the safety of the community," and pointed out, "This general strike at the final hurdle toward phased daily life recovery is an irresponsible act that does not help the safety of the community at all." He warned, "The government will collect evidence on-site one by one for any rallies or demonstrations that undermine quarantine in any form and hold everyone legally accountable without exception until the end."

Despite these requests, the KCTU held a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court on the same day, stating, "The government is only making insincere empty wordplay and public opinion manipulation about 'restraint and resolving through dialogue' regarding the general strike," and declared its intention to proceed with the general strike, saying, "The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution must be protected, and their application must be fair and equitable to all."

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