KCTU to Hold 3-Day Overnight Sit-in... "Amend the Trade Union Act"

Entering a 3-day Overnight Sit-in in Front of the National Assembly
Struggle During Ambulance Transfer of Fasting Union Member

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions are protesting in front of the Democratic Party headquarters, urging the revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act.
Photo by Tae-won Choi skking@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a rally on the afternoon of the 27th in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (Trade Union Act). Union members will hold an overnight sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly for three days starting from that day.

About 1,000 people, according to the organizers' estimate, gathered at the rally in front of the National Assembly. The union members held placards with the phrase "Amend Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act" and shouted slogans such as "Let's amend the Trade Union Act through total unity."

Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, said, "The struggle to amend the Trade Union Act is a fight to protect workers," adding, "We will fight with everything we have and achieve victory." He also stated, "If the definition of workers does not change, special employment and platform workers will not be recognized as workers," and "The necessity of legal amendment is very clear, but the National Assembly has yet to respond."

After the rally, the union members passed by the People Power Party headquarters and continued their assembly in front of the Democratic Party headquarters, which is currently occupied. Yoon Jang-hyuk, chairman of the Metal Workers' Union, who has been on a hunger strike for 28 days, raised his voice in front of the Democratic Party headquarters, saying, "There is labor rights in the Constitution, but the current labor law is too restrictive," and emphasized, "Amending Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act is essential to guarantee labor rights according to the Constitution."

Meanwhile, during the process of transporting Yu Choe-an, vice chairman of the Metal Workers' Union Geoje-Tongyeong-Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractors Branch, who is on a hunger strike, by ambulance, a brief clash occurred between the police attempting to detain him and union members.

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