Jeonnam and Gwangju laborers: 'Strengthen labor rights using the death of a cargo worker as an opportunity'

In Gwangju, South Korea, the mood on May 1st, the restored 'Labor Day,' was far from celebratory. Instead, the 2026 World Labor Day rally, organized by the Jeonnam and Gwangju chapters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was marked by a profound sense of solemnity. The event was primarily a tribute to a cargo worker, identified only as Mr. Seo, who tragically died after being hit by a replacement vehicle while demanding negotiations with BGF Logistics. This incident cast a dark shadow over the day, transforming the rally into a memorial and a call to action.

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The will of the martyr. Let's win negotiations with the parent company and secure labor basic rights.

Our reporting at Hankyoreh highlights the deep-seated frustrations and the perilous conditions faced by workers in South Korea. The 3,000-plus attendees at the rally voiced their demands for the "will of the deceased" to be honored, calling for "negotiations with the parent company" and the "realization of labor rights." Park Sun-hee, vice-head of the KCTU Gwangju chapter, eloquently articulated the workers' plight, stating that the deceased had gone on strike not to die, but to avoid discrimination and ensure fair treatment. The demand for direct negotiation with the parent company, BGF Logistics, underscores a systemic issue where subcontractors often bear the brunt of labor disputes, while the ultimate beneficiaries of their work remain insulated.

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The BGF Logistics cargo workers started the strike not to die from work, but to avoid discrimination. Securing negotiations with the parent company was a task we had to solve together, but the martyr Mr. Seo returned to us as a cold corpse.

Shin Jeong-min, a representative of the BGF Naju branch of the Cargo Workers' Union, powerfully questioned the notion of equality under the law, asking, "Are we truly equal?" He lamented that even on a day meant to celebrate labor, workers are still forced to fight on the streets. This sentiment resonates deeply within the Korean context, where labor rights have been a constant battleground. While international coverage might focus on economic statistics or political shifts, our focus remains on the human element – the sacrifices made by individuals like Mr. Seo and the collective struggle for dignity and fair treatment. The rally concluded with a march, solidifying their commitment to mourning the deceased, investigating the truth, securing negotiations with parent companies, and ultimately, building a society that truly respects labor.

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For decades, we couldn't rest even when sick, and the freight rates kept getting cut the more we worked. The people are equal before the law, but were we truly equal? As Korean citizens before being workers, why do we still have to fight on the streets on Labor Day, which we have regained after 63 years?