KCTU Holds General Strike Today: 10,000 Expected to Rally in Gwanghwamun and March to Presidential Office

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is holding a general strike rally in downtown Seoul today (July 15), with approximately 10,000 participants expected to demand that primary contractors engage in collective bargaining.

The KCTU will host the "KCTU July 15 General Strike Rally" at 3:00 p.m. today in front of the Dongwha Duty Free shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, under the slogan of marking the first year of primary contractor negotiations, breaking through industry-wide bargaining, and securing labor rights for all workers.

Participants plan to march toward the presidential office after the rally concludes.

This general strike was organized to demand that primary contractors acknowledge their responsibilities and engage in direct negotiations with subcontracted workers, in accordance with the so-called "Yellow Envelope Act" (the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) that went into effect last March.

During today's rally, the KCTU plans to publicize cases of companies avoiding negotiations and urge the government to play a role in ensuring that primary contractor bargaining is realized in line with the intent of the legal amendments.

The union also intends to present legislative tasks for the second half of the year, including the recognition of labor status for special employment and platform workers, as well as the expansion of the minimum wage application.

KCTU President Yang Kyung-soo stated at a previous press conference, "Over the past four months, we have requested negotiations at approximately 400 workplaces within the KCTU, but only four have proceeded." He added, "If primary contractors evade their responsibilities despite clear evidence of their status as employers, workers have no choice but to respond with struggle."

Affiliated organizations are also conducting industry-specific strikes and preliminary rallies.

The Korean Metal Workers' Union is staging strikes of four hours or more at each workplace, and its Seoul branch plans to hold a rally in front of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office at 1:00 p.m. before joining the main KCTU general strike rally.

The National Care Workers' Union has designated today as a "Day of Stopping Work" to suspend operations, while the Mart Workers' Union will hold a rally related to Homeplus in front of the presidential office.

The Korean Construction Workers Union, the Democratic General Workers' Union, and the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union are also participating in the general strike.

Beyond Seoul, KCTU regional headquarters will hold general strike rallies in areas including Jeju and North Gyeongsang Province, and the Metal Workers' Union will hold regional strike rallies across the country, including in Busan, Ulsan, Gwangju, North Jeolla Province, and South Chungcheong Province.

The KCTU has warned that if primary contractors do not respond to negotiations following this general strike, it will continue with larger-scale struggles in the second half of the year.

The police expect traffic congestion due to the rallies and marches in the Gwanghwamun area and plan to deploy traffic police to manage vehicle detours and ensure safety.

Depending on the situation on the ground, traffic delays may occur in some downtown sections, including Sejong-daero and Sajik-ro.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.