On Labor Day, 60,000 Members of Two Major Trade Unions Rally in Downtown Seoul

On May 1st, Labor Day, major labor unions and worker organizations held rallies in downtown Seoul.

Image source=Yonhap News

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held the "May 1st General Strike World Labor Day Rally" at 2 p.m. on Sejong-daero in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, demanding an end to union suppression and an increase in the minimum wage.

The rally took place with six lanes controlled on the Donghwa Duty Free Shop to City Hall Station section. The organizers estimated about 30,000 participants. The KCTU condemned the self-immolation of a construction worker, who was scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing at the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch, as a result of the government's excessive union suppression.

Participants held placards reading "Yoon Seok-yeol OUT" and "Let's go, general strike," shouting slogans such as "Punish the Yoon Seok-yeol administration for union suppression" and "Everything except wages has gone up, raise the minimum wage." After the rally, they marched in three directions toward Yongsan Station, Anguk Station, and the Seoul Employment and Labor Office.

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) held the "2023 Labor Day National Workers' Rally" at 2 p.m. on Yeoui-daero in Seoul, controlling four lanes. This was the first time in seven years since 2016 that the FKTU held a national workers' rally on Labor Day. The organizers estimated about 30,000 attendees.

Kim Dong-myeong, chairman of the FKTU, said, "Starting with today's workers' rally, we will embark on a persistent struggle against the anti-labor policies of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

The KCTU Service Federation's Delivery Platform Workers' Union held the "May 1st Baemin Workers' Rally" at 11:50 a.m. in front of the Baedal Minjok headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, urging an increase in the basic delivery fee of 3,000 won, which has been frozen for nine years.

The Public Officials Labor Union Federation (Gongnochoeng) also held a resolution rally at 1 p.m. near National Assembly Station in Yeouido, demanding "guarantee of Labor Day holiday for public officials."

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) held the "2nd Anniversary Disabled Workers' Labor Day Rally" at 2 p.m. on the east side of Seoul City Hall, emphasizing the need for labor based on rights rather than abilities.

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