Construction Union Member Dies After Self-Immolation... Opposition: "Yoon's Union Crackdown Tragedy"

On Labor Day, May 1, an executive of the Construction Workers' Union Gangwon Branch under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) attempted self-immolation and ultimately died. The opposition parties raised their voices, calling it a tragedy caused by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's 'union crackdown.'

According to the Gangneung Police Station in Gangwon on the 2nd, Mr. A, who attempted self-immolation ahead of a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review), died at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital in Seoul. The day before, Mr. A doused himself with a volatile substance in front of the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch and set himself on fire. He was transferred to the hospital with burns over his entire body.

Mr. A and two other executives of the Construction Workers' Union Gangwon Branch had arrest warrants requested on charges of joint extortion and obstruction of business under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes. They are accused of forcing construction companies to hire union members and demanding salaries for site executives, extorting a total of 80 million won from construction companies from May last year to February this year.

On the 1st, construction union members held an emergency rally condemning the prosecution and government in front of the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, where a senior official of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Construction Union attempted self-immolation ahead of a warrant hearing. Photo by Yonhap News

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It is known that Mr. A had been struggling due to investigations targeting union members of the Construction Workers' Union. On the day he attempted self-immolation, he was also awaiting a warrant review at the Gangneung Branch. Mr. A reportedly left a suicide note stating, "I engaged in union activities justly and without guilt, yet they say it is not a violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act but obstruction of business and extortion. My pride does not allow this. I will forever be beside my comrades."

The opposition parties called for an immediate halt to union suppression. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended a meeting on improving the system of indirect employment labor exploitation at the National Assembly on the 2nd and said, "So far, the government has conducted 13 raids against the Construction Workers' Union, arrested 15 people, and summoned 950 for investigation," adding, "While the government turns a blind eye to investigations into stock manipulation involving the president's family or the 5 billion won club involving close associates of the president, it spares no means in suppressing powerless workers."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a meeting on improving the system of indirect employment labor exploitation held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

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Kim Han-gyu, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, criticized, "This tragedy was caused by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's 'anti-labor actions' and 'union crackdown.'" He said, "Workers are not 'working machines' who work 69 hours a week. They are not criminals to be crushed to boost the government's approval ratings," and added, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration should abandon its shallow tactics of inciting deep-rooted union hatred to raise its approval ratings."

Wi Sun-hee, spokesperson for the Justice Party, also raised her voice that day, saying, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government that killed a worker must surely pay the price." She stated, "The deceased condemned the prosecution's forced investigation and the Yoon Seok-yeol government's union suppression, saying just before self-immolation, 'I engaged in union activities justly, but they say it is obstruction of business and extortion,'" and added, "We cannot contain our anger at the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's oppressive anti-labor reforms."

She said, "The Yoon government, which is dividing workers and pushing labor reforms through false agitation, is now even holding workers' lives in its hands," and "The Yoon government's anti-labor and anti-union policies that trample unions and vilify workers will surely be held accountable and pay the price."

Meanwhile, the Construction Workers' Union has announced a government struggle scheduled for the 4th. The union held a press conference stating, "In the midst of the self-immolation crisis caused by ongoing coercive investigations and union crackdowns, the union has no choice but to fight," and "On the 4th, we will hold a full-scale rally in Yongsan to condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

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