KCTU launches general strike to 'bring down' president

Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, speaks at a rally in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Monday afternoon. [YONHAP]

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) launched a two-week general strike on Monday to protest the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s policies.

Speaking at a press conference in front of the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, KCTU leader Yang Kyung-soo declared the aim of the walkout was to “bring down the Yoon Suk Yeol government.”

KCTU officials said the strike, which is scheduled to last until July 15, is aimed at rallying public support for Yoon’s resignation from office, a minimum wage hike and an end to what the group calls the government's “pro-chaebol and anti-labor” policies.

Chaebol refers to Korea’s family-run large businesses.

The left-leaning KCTU also seeks to highlight other issues of importance to Korean liberals, such as guaranteeing freedom of assembly and protest and stopping Japan from releasing radioactive wastewater from the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Approximately 1.2 million workers are members of unions that fall under the KCTU umbrella organization.

More than 400,000 are expected to join the strike, but the group said the walkout would be unlikely to heavily impact the public as each industry’s participation will be limited to one or two days.

The Hyundai Motor labor union and the Korean Metal Workers’ Union is scheduled to go on strike on July 12, while the medical workers’ union has warned it will go an indefinite general strike starting July 13.

The KCTU also plans to hold evening candlelight protests every evening during the strike period to call for Yoon’s resignation from office.

According to a KCTU representative, the president “is using the authority given by the people to oppress workers and destroy livelihoods, democracy and peace.”

Possible clashes could occur between police and protesters at the four large-scale rallies planned by the KCTU for the strike period.

The Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency warned that “any illegal acts, such as violence, occupation of roads or malicious noise, will be dealt with in a stern manner,” and that over 9,000 police personnel will be dispatched to as a precaution to deal with potential disturbances associated with the rallies.

In response to the planned strike, Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang held an emergency meeting Monday with six business lobbies, including the Federation of Korean Industries and the Korea International Trade Association, to discuss ways to minimize the economic fallout from the strike.

Lee condemned the planned strike as “clearly illegal” for skipping mandatory negotiations and urged companies to take a “stern stance regarding the labor unions’ unreasonable demands.”

The six business lobbies also issued a joint statement and urged the KCTU to stop staging an “illegal and politically motivated strike” and instead cooperate with businesses to help boost the economy.

Lee also called on the National Assembly to reconsider the so-called yellow envelope bill, championed by the liberal Democratic Party, which would prohibit companies from suing striking workers for damages due to business interruptions.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]