Relief without letting dozens of people off the fence … after the meeting

Relief outside the convention … 2,500 people marched on the Ulsan Line
On the afternoon of the 14th, at the ‘National Workers’ Congress’ held near Yeouido Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, organized by the Federation of Trade Unions, the assembly participants outside the main hall shouted slogans. Keep a distance away from the venue on this day, etc.
The quarantine rules were not followed correctly. On the same day, some 2,500 people participated in the Ulsan Civil Union Headquarters assembly, held near the Taehwa River in Nam-gu, Ulsan. Reporter Hong Jin-hwan [email protected] / Ulsan = News 1

A road near Yeouido Park, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, around 2 p.m. on the 14th.

At the meeting place of the National Federation of Democratic Trade Unions (CTU), the guidelines for quarantine against new coronavirus infections (Corona 19) were followed relatively well. Participants took part in the assembly by controlling fever, filling out a list, obtaining number tags, and walking through a fence. According to Seoul guidelines, only less than 100 people were able to attend, and the space between the chairs was secured at least 2m.

But the situation outside the fence was different. The 40 participants who were left out due to overcrowding sat close together and shouted following the assembly’s slogan. Some participants put down their masks and ate. The organizer asked to “keep his distance” several times, but the situation did not improve. Considering the number of people outside, it exceeded 100 people, but the police did not impose restrictions either.

○ Rally held in about 90 locations in Seoul alone

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, on the 14th, the Trade Union Confederation held the “50th Jeon Tae-il 50th Anniversary National Workers’ Congress” in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu. At the same time, there were 36 assemblies related to the Federation of Civil Unions, including the General Federation of Democrats under the Federation of Civil Unions which held a rally in Mapo-gu. In Jongno-gu and Seocho-gu, conservative groups like Free Solidarity held demonstrations. On this day, the number of meetings in Seoul was 43, but there were many movements such as marches, and more than 90 places were held. When Seoul and the provinces are combined, about 10,000 people are known to have participated in the rally across the country that day. The assembly itself went off without a hitch without any further accidents, but it was noted that quarantine regulations were not properly observed. In many cases, participants who were unable to attend the meeting crowded outside. After the meeting, they met in various places and ate together. An official of the quarantine authorities said: “It is ambiguous to sanction because it is not directly related to the assembly.”

Yeouido, where the National Federation of Trade Unions was held, was also easily able to see the scenes gathered in nearby restaurants after the assembly. At around 5 p.m., about 10 participants gathered at one restaurant to drink alcohol, and at another restaurant, 16 people, including former and current executives, gathered. They said, “I just came to eat. I’m not having a meeting. ”

The situation was similar to the manifestation of the conservative group. Some participants did not wear masks and their distance was not properly observed during the march.

○ Ulsan 2,500 people participated in the civil union assembly

The civil union assembly on this day was not only held in Seoul. Local conventions were held in 12 provinces across the country, including Busan and Daejeon. About 2,500 people participated in the assembly near the Taehwa River in Ulsan, and more than 700 people gathered in front of the Chungnam Provincial Office in Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. An official from the quarantine authorities said: “The number of participants outside of Seoul was not limited to less than 100 people.”

Police also investigated whether some of the rally participants were illegal. Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo Police Station said: “We are analyzing the data collected from the Yeouido Confederation of Civil Unions and other affiliated organizations to determine if there is any illegal activity.”

In particular, the police are looking for any illegal activity in the process by Civil Unions and others who marched near Daebang Station on Subway Line 1 in Yeongdeungpo-gu and the Seoul South Employment Office. A police officer said: “As soon as we finish analyzing data such as video on the site, we plan to call participants and officials to investigate.”

Some pointed out that the government responded in a discriminatory manner to the demonstration. “If Corona 19 proliferates again, it will be difficult for the government, the ruling party, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police to escape responsibility.” I accused him. Furthermore, a spokesman for the Democratic Party, Shin Young-dae, said: “The assembly of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions is a threat to the daily life of the people.”

Kim Tae-sung [email protected]· Kang Seung-hyun · Reporter for Choi Woo-yeol