Ahn Cheol-soo: "Minnocho's Demands Are Absurd... I Will Reform the Radical Aristocratic Labor Union"

Answering Ahn Cheol-soo
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, is answering questions from panelists at the presidential candidate invitation debate hosted by the Korean Association for Public Administration and the Korean Association for Policy Studies, held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 20th. 2022.1.20 [Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers]
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[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, criticized the large-scale rally held by progressive organizations including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in Yeouido, Seoul on the 15th of this month.

On that day, Candidate Ahn stated on social media (SNS), "Last Saturday, the KCTU once again carried out an illegal rally," adding, "While the entire nation is suffering from COVID-19, about 15,000 people gathered in one place and committed illegal acts as if mocking the situation." He added, "Even if there were no concerns about the spread of COVID-19, such illegal occupation of the city center causes tremendous inconvenience to passing citizens," and "It is also fatal to self-employed business owners operating nearby."

He also pointed out the demands of the National People's Action, composed of progressive organizations including the KCTU. The National People's Action called for the enactment of an anti-discrimination law and the abolition of the National Security Law. Candidate Ahn said, "Looking at the demands made by groups such as the KCTU, it is simply absurd," and added, "They are neither democratic nor suitable for a labor union." He continued, "Under the banner of labor unions, they have become a privileged group that discriminates against non-union members and an omnipotent power group," and said, "The KCTU aims to overturn an unequal world, but only treats its affiliated members well, represents only their interests, and builds insurmountable entry barriers for irregular workers."

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, criticized progressive organizations such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which held a large-scale rally in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 15th of this month.
[Photo by Ahn Cheol-soo Facebook]

Furthermore, Candidate Ahn said, "They deepen labor polarization and further spread the rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer phenomenon throughout society," adding, "In a situation where job creation is shrinking due to the slowdown in economic growth, the militant aristocratic unions insist only on their wage increases and employment extensions and forcibly carry out strikes, so companies have no choice but to reduce regular employment." He then claimed, "The core of the KCTU is a great harmful force in our society," and "They are the top vested interest group in Korea that maintains their privileges under the guise of the labor movement."

Candidate Ahn holds the position that illegal rallies by the KCTU and others must be strictly punished. He said, "If elected, I will not tolerate the mob rule and illegality of militant aristocratic unions," and "Illegal rallies that disregard the rule of law and mock public authority will be strictly punished and eradicated." He added, "Employers should respect workers, and unions should be the true shelter for workers and the backbone of corporate growth," and "The beginning of this is to reform the militant aristocratic unions for the sake of our youth and the future of the Republic of Korea."

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