The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWKorean adoptee in Germany reunites with birth family after 42 years

  • 3

    Korea to start mass production of KF-21 in 2024

  • 5

    Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape

  • 7

    Sandstorm from China forecast to push up fine dust levels in Korea

  • 9

    Daughter of North Korean dictator seen wearing $1,900 Dior jacket

  • 11

    Will Apple Pay launch boost local iPhone sales?

  • 13

    INTERVIEW'Welcome to world of art therapy'

  • 15

    INTERVIEWForbes-listed entrepreneur pursues partnerships with Samsung, LG, SK to help Ukraine

  • 17

    Indonesian students advise Korean bank on entering Indonesian market

  • 19

    Long viewed as an outsider, conceptual artist grabs global spotlight in his twilight years

  • 2

    Zebra captured after escaping from Seoul zoo

  • 4

    Will exempting foreign nannies from minimum wage boost Korea's birth rate?

  • 6

    Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him

  • 8

    Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'

  • 10

    Retailers rush to adopt Apple Pay system

  • 12

    INTERVIEWExpert pitches Laotian rural reform to solve NK's chronic food shortages

  • 14

    Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour

  • 16

    Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series

  • 18

    US Fed lifts key interest rate amid banking sector fears

  • 20

    Samsung, SK chiefs prepare for trips to China amid intensifying 'chip war'

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, March 25, 2023 | 07:06
Society
Umbrella union stages mass rally in Seoul
Posted : 2021-10-20 16:51
Updated : 2021-10-21 11:37
Bahk Eun-ji
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions take to the streets in Seodaemun District, central Seoul, Wednesday, during a mass rally, despite government warnings not to hold it out of fear of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Yonhap
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions take to the streets in Seodaemun District, central Seoul, Wednesday, during a mass rally, despite government warnings not to hold it out of fear of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Yonhap

Mass gathering causes traffic chaos, raises concern over virus resurgence

By Bahk Eun-ji

A major umbrella union staged a mass rally in central Seoul, Wednesday, causing serious traffic chaos in the downtown area.

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held the demonstration to demand better working conditions for irregular workers and a minimum wage hike, despite the authorities' repeated warning not to hold it out of concerns over a possible resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

The union said about 550,000 of its members staged a walkout from their workplaces nationwide, while 80,000 took part in rallies in 13 cities across the country, including 27,000 in Seoul.

The KCTU did not disclose the venue of the mass gathering in Seoul until the last moment, as police had not given permission for it, defining it as illegal. The National Police Agency dispatched 11,000 officers to places usually used for demonstrations, blocking the spots off with fences and police buses.

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions take to the streets in Seodaemun District, central Seoul, Wednesday, during a mass rally, despite government warnings not to hold it out of fear of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Yonhap
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions march through the street near Seodaemun Station in Seoul, Wednesday, during a mass rally held by the umbrella union as part of a one-day strike to demand better working conditions for irregular workers and a minimum wage hike. Yonhap

Labor group faces series of complaints following mass rally
Labor group faces series of complaints following mass rally
2021-10-21 16:10  |  Society
Members of umbrella union take to streets despite gov't warnings and virus fears [PHOTOS]
Members of umbrella union take to streets despite gov't warnings and virus fears [PHOTOS]
2021-10-20 17:13  |  Photo News

But union members who were scattered around Euljiro Station, Seoul City Hall and the Jongno area quickly gathered near the Seodaemun Station intersection where relatively less police officers were stationed as soon as a notice was shared at 1:30 p.m. They took over the intersection, blocking traffic flow in all directions.

Police forces dispatched to Seoul City Hall and Gwanghwamun were hurriedly redirected to the Seodaemun Station area.

Minor clashes took place between officers and some unionists when the latter were prevented from going to Seodaemun.

From around noon, the main entrances to subway stations in central Seoul including Gyeongbok Palace, Gwanghwamun, City Hall, Jonggak and Anguk were closed off and trains passed through without stopping for several hours to prevent more people from joining the demonstrators, causing inconvenience to residents and worsening traffic congestion.

The central government and Seoul City had defined the rally as illegal, because gatherings of such large numbers of people are banned under current rules to combat the spread of COVID-19. Officials are concerned that mass protests could spark a resurgence in the coronavirus and disrupt the government's plan to move toward "Living with COVID-19."

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions take to the streets in Seodaemun District, central Seoul, Wednesday, during a mass rally, despite government warnings not to hold it out of fear of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Yonhap
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union stage a rally at a park in Daejeon, Wednesday, as the union holds mass rallies in Seoul and other 12 cities across the country as part of a one-day strike. Yonhap

"At a time ahead of an important turning point in the country's path toward a normal life, the massive rally staged by the KTCU threatens public safety," Interior and Safety Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said in a regular virus response briefing at the Government Complex Sejong.

"We will take strict measures against such illegal activities in accordance with the principle of zero tolerance," Jeon added.

Many residents experienced inconvenience due to traffic jams.

"It took more than 30 minutes for my bus to go from one stop to the next," said an office worker in his 30s, who wished to be identified only by his surname Lee.

"It does not make sense for the KCTU to cause such inconvenience to residents if it wants to get public opinion behind their strike," he said.



Emailejb@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escapeZoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape
2Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week
3North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon
4Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president
5More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism
6Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate
7What's next for Do Kwon? What's next for Do Kwon?
8FTC criticized for delaying approval for Hanwha's acquisition of DSME FTC criticized for delaying approval for Hanwha's acquisition of DSME
9Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek
10Samsung Display strike looms due to deadlocked wage negotiationsSamsung Display strike looms due to deadlocked wage negotiations
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him
2Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol' Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'
3Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour
4Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series
5Long viewed as an outsider, conceptual artist grabs global spotlight in his twilight years Long viewed as an outsider, conceptual artist grabs global spotlight in his twilight years
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group