KCTU Files Complaint to Human Rights Commission: "Seoul City's Assembly Ban Notice is Unconstitutional"

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Yoon Taek-geun, Acting Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is speaking at a press conference held in front of the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission, claiming that Seoul City's notification banning the assembly constitutes a human rights violation.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, the KCTU held a press conference in front of the Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "The Mayor of Seoul issued a ban notification on the assembly planned by the KCTU without any reasonable grounds," and argued, "The prohibition or restriction of assemblies infringes on the constitutional freedom of assembly and association."

Earlier, the KCTU had planned a nationwide workers' rally on the 13th, divided into 20 groups with 499 people each maintaining a 70-meter distance. However, Seoul City effectively viewed it as a single assembly of 10,000 people at the same location and judged it to be a violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, thus disallowing it.

On the 13th, about 20,000 people gathered and the KCTU proceeded with the assembly. Seoul City also filed complaints with the police against all participants. On the same day, the KCTU Public Transport Workers' Union held a press conference condemning Seoul City's decision to ban the general rally scheduled for the 27th.

Hyun Jeong-hee, Chairperson of the Public Transport Workers' Union, stated, "There is no reasonable reason to limit the number of assembly participants to 499 when 20,000 gather in a baseball stadium and 30,000 in a soccer stadium," and condemned, "Stop banning assemblies and guarantee workers' rights to strike and assemble."

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