hankyoreh

The Korean Cofederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the nation’s two largest umbrella labor groups, will hold a rally at Seoul Plaza on November 12. The labor group had initially planned a demonstration at Gwanghwamun, but the police refused to grant permission, citing traffic congestion.

In connection with accepting an alternative location for the demonstration, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said that the KCTU’s reapplication included a reduction of the size of the rally and a change in the venue.

Kim Jeong-seok, an official of the police agency said, "[Weighing] KCTU’s concern about not finding a place to hold a rally with the potential inconvenience suffered by citizens, we made a prudent decision."

The KCTU originally planned to hold demonstrations in Jongno, Myeongdong, and Seoul Station and then march to Gwanghwamun on the main road. The government rejected this proposal, citing traffic congestion concerns. The union’s resubmitted and approved plan has the members gathering at Seoul Plaza, after marching in groups from Seoul Station and Daehangno.

Some groups within the union will hold separate rallies at locations including Cheonggye Plaza and then march along sidewalks. The union for dump truck drivers, part of the larger umbrella union, received permission for its own separate rally in October, but it decided to reduce the scale of its march and join in the umbrella labor group’s rally.

While the national government approved the KTCU rally plans, the umbrella labor group was not able to obtain permission from the Seoul Metropolitan Government to use Seoul Plaza. The union will have to pay a fine for using the public space without permission.

In the meantime, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) has decided to hold a demonstration at Seoul Plaza on November 25. It will present an application for the rally to the police around November 13, it said.
[englishhani@hani.co.kr]