Hundreds of thousands of Koreans were beaten, jailed, tortured, and killed while defending democracy for 40 years under various forms of military-authoritarian rule. On the evening of December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared Martial Law on live TV.
Workers, students, and ordinary people flooded the streets and rushed to Parliament where they faced martial law troops and broke through the blockade. This allowed the National Assembly to vote and unanimously block the Martial Law 190 to 0. President Yoon rescinded the martial law order after approximately six hours due to the people’s defence of their democracy for which so many gave their lives.
Our comrades in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) have declared a general strike and a series of strike rallies calling for the resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and the “Beyond Yoon” demands of just working conditions and public policies that ensure quality public services for all Koreans.
In response to the unfolding situation in South Korea, the international trade union movement has sprung up in solidarity and support for our Korean trade union siblings. More than 80 trade unions from over 40 countries signed the International Trade Union Solidarity Statement with the People and Trade Unions of South Korea (see below for the statement and union signatures).
For now, KCTU affiliates, including the KPTU, have been participating in a candlelight vigil since last night, and KPTU's joint strikes with the Railway Union began today, followed by the Underground and Education Support Workers until Saturday, December 6.
The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) is planning a two-day and two-hour stoppage. Each KPTU union has held an executive meeting to discuss how and at what level to participate in the struggle against President Yoon's impeachment, based on each union's circumstances.
The opposition has accused President Yoon of treason and the National Assembly is likely to vote on a motion to impeach President Park on Saturday.
On Saturday, December 7, there will be a mass mobilisation of the KCTU following a joint strike rally of the KPTU and a people's rally to impeach President Yoon.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Mr. Yang Kyeung-soo, announced the general strike and shared the following statement regarding the imposition of martial law by President Yoon:
"President Yoon's declaration of martial law was nothing short of a coup d'état. Parliament was blockaded by police, and martial law troops were airlifted in with firearms. It was a dire situation where our constitution and democracy were being trampled upon - a clear case of insurrection.
However, Yoon's faction's rebellion has failed.
Our citizens, armed with nothing but conviction, rushed to Parliament and stood against the martial law troops. Through sheer determination, they broke through the blockade, enabling Parliament to lift the martial law. Once again, it was our citizens who protected democracy.
Now comes the time of reckoning.
The KCTU is launching an indefinite general strike until the Yoon administration steps down. We shall halt production to stop Yoon's reckless actions and will take emergency measures alongside our citizens.
Yoon, who has destroyed our society through insurrection, must be arrested immediately. All cabinet members who participated in his unconstitutional, illegal martial law must also face punishment.
Yoon has persistently oppressed the KCTU, even summoning over 60 people for questioning over the anti-Yoon rally held on November 9th. However, the KCTU will not yield. We shall fight with all our might to remove Yoon from office and ensure he faces justice. We are committed to building a new society centered on labour.“
President of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), Eom Gil-yong, shared the following statement, recalling the People’s Uprising of 1987 and doubling down the demand for the expansion of quality public services and workers' rights.
“Just as the people's bare hands beat back Yun's illegitimate martial law, the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) and South Korean trade unionists will end the regime of Yun Seok-yul.
Yun's unconstitutional declaration of emergency martial law overthrew the democracy established by the Workers' Great Struggle and the People's Uprising in 1987 after a long struggle against dictatorship.
Three years into Yun Seok-yul's regime, public services have been destroyed, workers' rights have been curtailed and justice has yet to be served.
As soon as martial law was declared, the first proclamation was issued, explicitly banning strikes, work stoppages and rallies. Criticism of the government's misguided policies was branded as "anti-state," and the military was mobilized to suppress our union's united strike and struggle.
Our strikes for the life and safety of the workers and the people and for the elimination of discrimination against the irregular workers are completely justified and justified strikes are the biggest fear of the regime.
The KPTU is determined to actively serve the KCTU's directive of "indefinite general strike until the regime is removed" and the strike of the railway, subway and education support workers that started today is the beginning of this.
All affiliated organizations of the KPTU will carry out the strike and struggle without fail, putting the demand for the expansion of quality public services and workers' rights in the forefront.
Beyond Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation, we will continue to fight on the front line to realize a world where workers are respected.
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We, the undersigned unions and allies, stand in unconditional solidarity with our Korean trade union comrades and the people of South Korea following the dangerous imposition of Martial Law by the government of Yoon Suk-yeol. In particular, we stand with our long-time comrades in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU).
We celebrate the news that the Martial Law has been reversed and reaffirm our support to comrades in the Korean labour movement who courageously resisted President Yoon Suk-yeo’s reckless move and who continue to defy this attempted escalation of authoritarianism.
Alongside other movements and defenders of democracy, the international trade union community stands united against repression, and for the empowerment of the working class.
Even though Martial Law was lifted, the Korean labour movement has declared that the struggle against Yoon will continue - as it has for months- until he steps down and the announced strikes will be moving forward as planned.
We therefore double our support and commit to closely follow the series of strikes rallies by KPTU members and workers in railway, metro and schools taking place from December 5th to 7th, 2024. Their main demands for real wage increases, safe staffing levels and safe working conditions are fundamental towards ensuring the provision of quality public services for the Korean people.
In particular, we support and stand with our comrades in the energy sector who are holding a rally on December 6 to demand job security in the energy transition and for the government to change its energy policy to a public-centred energy policy. We unreservedly oppose the privatisation of energy and essential public services.
The KPTU workers’ strike has gained strength because it is consistent with the fight for democracy, justice, freedom, and workers’ rights. These strikes reflect the courageous opposition to Yoon Suk-yeol's attempt to impose an authoritarian regime at the expense of workers' fundamental rights and democratic values.
Workers and progressive forces have already called for "Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation" and unions will continue their strike against the martial law regime. They will not surrender to the groundless martial law.
The KPTU has declared they will be “at the forefront of the struggle to overthrow the regime” and the international trade union movement will stand with them every step of the way.
Add-on: We stand in full support of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in their indefinite nationwide strike. KCTU leaders assert that the organization will continue its work stoppage until President Yoon Suk Yeul resigns. We support their demand and stand in full solidarity with the strike.
Signed,
The following 84 unions from 44 countries and 6 trade union-allied organisations
Américas
Confederación Latinoamericana y del caribe de Trabajadores Estatales
Confederación Sindical de trabajadores y trabajadoras de las Américas (CSA)
Argentina
CTA Autónoma
CTA-T / Sec. Relaciones Internacionales
FeTERA Federación de Trabajadores de la Energía
Unión del Personal Civil de la Nación (UPCN)
CNTI - CTA Autónoma
Asociación del Personal Superior de Empresas de Energía (APSEE)
Bangladesh
Paschimanchal Bidyut Bitaran Sramik Karmachari Union (PBBSKU)
Barbados
Public Services International - Barbados
Belgium
CGSP ALR
SETCa
Belize
Public Service Union of Belize
Botswana
Botswana Federation Of Trade Unions (BFTU)
Brasil
Central Única dos Trabalhadores - CUT Brasil
Confederação Nacional dos Metalúrgicos da CUT - CNM/CUT
Sindicato dos Servidores Municipais de São Paulo (Sindsepsp)
Bulgaria
Federation of Construction, Industry and Water Supply (FCIW-PODKREPA)
Canada
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Chile
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de Chile - CUT Chile
Federación de Trabajadores de Call Center de Chile (FETRACALL)
Federación Nacional de Sindicatos de Trabajadores del Petróleo y Afines (FENATRAPECH)
Federación de Sindicatos de Metro (FESIMETRO)
Colombia
Union Sindical Obrera (USO)
SINTRAMINERALES
Sintracarbon
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de Rama, Servicios de la Industria del Transporte y Logística de Colombia (SNTT - Colombia)
Dominica
Public Service Union (Dominica PSU)
Ecuador
Confederación Ecuatoriana de Organizaciones Clasistas Unitarias de Trabajadores (CEDOCUT)
Egypt
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Staff Union (BASU)
España
Confederación Intersindical de España (STEs)
Euskal Herria/País Vasco
ELA Sindikatua
LAB Sindikatua
France
Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT)
Federation Mines et Energie CGT (FNME-CGT)
Galiza
Confederación Intersindical Galega (CIG)
India
United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)
National Hawker Federation
All India Women’s Hawker Federation
Kamgar Ekta Union (Port and Railway Workers Union)
Indonesia
Persatuan Pegawai PT PLN Indonesia Power (PP-IP)
Ireland
Fórsa
Italia
Associazione Rurale Italiana
Italian General Confederation of Labour - CGIL
Kenya
Kenya Electrical Trades and Allied Workers Union (KETAWU)
Lebanon
Public Services International - Lebanon (PSI Lebanon)
Mexico
Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME)
Unión Nacional de Técnicos y Profesionistas Petroleros (UNTyPP)
Sindicato Nacional De Trabajadores Del Seguro Social (SNTSS)
Namibia
Trade Union Congress of Namibia
Nepal
General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)
Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC)
CLASS-Nepal
Niger
Syndicat National des Travailleurs de l'Energie du Niger (SYNTRAVE)
Nigeria
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
Norway
Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NNO)
Pakistan
Labour Education Foundation
Panamá
Sindicato de los Trabajadores de la Industria Eléctrica y Similares de Panamá (SITIESPA)
Paraguay
Asociación Paraguaya de Enfermería
Perú
Federación de Trabajadores del Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (FENTAP)
Sindicato de Trabajadores Engie Energía Perú (STEEP)
Sindicato Unificado de Trabajadores de la Electricidad y Actividades Conexas (SUTREL)
Philippines
BULAKENYAS
SENTRO
Bukluran ng Manggawang Pilipino - BMP ( Filipino Workers Solidarity)
Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino - NCRR (BMP-NCRR)
Aniban ng Manggagawa Agrikultura (AMA)
Labor United and Alliances (LAB U ALL)
Independent Public Sector Employees Association (PIPSEA)
Tacurong City Employees Association (PSEAS/TACEA)
Pin@y care workers transnational / United Domestic Workers of the Philippines
National Confederation of TransportWorkers Union - NCTU
Puerto Rico
Unión de Trabajadores de la Industria Eléctrica y Riego - Prosol (UTIER Prosol)
Senegal
Syndicat National des Travailleurs du Pétrole, du Gaz et des Activités Connexes du Sénégal
South Africa
Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU)
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
Sri Lanka
Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (CIWU)
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent Public Service Union
Sweden/Sverige
Swedish Municipal Workers Union (Kommunal)
Swedish Municipal Workers Union
Tunisia
Fédération générale de l'électricité et du gaz-UGTT
United Kingdom
UNISON
United States
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Trade Union Allied Organizations
War on Want, United Kingdom
International Peace Bureau, India
Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Indonesia
Transform!Europe, Italy
Censat Agua Viva - Friends of the Earth Colombia, Colombia
Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
Institute of the Czech Left (ICL), Czech Republic
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