hankyoreh

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) gathered in front of the Blue House on July 13 to deliver their petition against the recently revised minimum wage act, but were blocked by the police. They also spoke out against comments by Kim Dong-yeon, Minister of Strategy and Finance and a Deputy Prime Minister, in opposition to the wage hike. The photo above shows KCTU demonstrators clashing with police officers on their march to the Blue House.

After a 19-hour meeting that concluded on July 14, The Minimum Wage Council (MWC) decided to set next year’s minimum wage at 8,350 won (US$ 7.37) per hour, showing an increase of 10.9 percent. President Moon has vowed to increase the hourly minimum wage to 10,000 won (US$8.86) by 2020, despite staunch opposition from much of the business community. (Kim Seong-gwang, staff photographer)