Tongui-dong Becomes a Venue for Rallies and Demonstrations... Is Yongsan Next?

Democratic Labor Union and Disability Rights Organizations Announce Continued Struggle

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungseon Gong, Gyumin Oh] Civic groups are gathering in front of the Seoul Tongui-dong office where the Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) is located. Since they have declared their intention to push through their demands to the new government, it is expected that Yongsan will also fall into turmoil.

The day before, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a "KCTU Struggle Declaration Unit Union Representatives Resolution Rally" at Cheonggye Square in Jung-gu, Seoul. After the rally, they marched to the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Tongui-dong, where the Transition Committee is located, to deliver their labor policy demands. This was their second march toward Tongui-dong in four days, following a press conference there on the 21st.

About 1,500 workers (estimated by organizers) gathered at the rally, urging the incoming government to reflect labor policies and declaring that if dialogue is not engaged, they will fight for five years. Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government must prioritize labor issues," adding, "We must raise the flag of struggle again to secure labor rights without discrimination and safe, good jobs."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Disability rights groups also raised their voices. The day before, the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) held a subway protest during the morning commute at Gyeongbokgung Station, near the Transition Committee office. Although protests were suspended after presidential candidates Sim Sang-jung and Lee Jae-myung promised to guarantee mobility rights for the disabled on the 23rd of last month, they resumed after about a month.

Jeonjangyeon had also visited the Transition Committee office on the 14th to deliver demands for a disability rights budget but was refused. The disability rights groups have stated that if dialogue does not occur, they will continue protests until the Transition Committee reflects the disability rights budget.

As Tongui-dong became a site for rallies and protests, merchants around the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute, where the Transition Committee is located, expressed discomfort. Kim (30), who runs a cafe and pub right next to the Transition Committee, said, "The police line set up for presidential security is very inconvenient," adding, "People holding one-person protests keep appearing, and customer numbers have dropped by about half."

Civic Groups Predict Struggles Against Yoon Seok-yeol Government... After Tongui-dong, Will Yongsan Be Next?

Meanwhile, if the presidential office moves from Cheongwadae to the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building, rallies and protests are expected to continue in Yongsan as well. The KCTU National Courier Workers' Union (Courier Union) has stated, "If the president is in Yongsan, we are willing to get close."

Unlike Cheongwadae, the Yongsan office allows rallies and protests right in front of the building, so more civic groups may gather. According to the Assembly and Demonstration Act, rallies and protests are prohibited within 100 meters of the boundary of the presidential residence.

However, the presidential residence and office in Yongsan are 3 to 5 minutes apart by car, making rallies and protests in front of the office legally possible. Protests during the morning commute may also occur, suggesting that new legal interpretations or measures will be needed in the future. The Yoon Seok-yeol president-elect’s side has stated that communication and interaction with the public can take place at Yongsan Park.

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