Minimum Wage Deliberations Deadline Looms; KCTU Demands 12,000 Won Increase | Dong-A Ilbo (KR)

Thousands of union members gathered in downtown Seoul, demanding a substantial hike in the minimum wage to 12,000 won for the upcoming year. The rally, organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), took place just two days before the legal deadline for the Minimum Wage Commission's deliberations.

Carrying signs with slogans like "Minimum Wage is People's Livelihood" and "Minimum Wage of 12,000 Won, a Reliable Umbrella for Workers," participants chanted calls for increased wages and the realization of labor basic rights. The KCTU argued that while the stock market sees abundant capital, workers' pockets remain dry. They highlighted the contrast between those reaping massive profits and ordinary workers struggling to afford basic necessities.

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While the stock market sees abundant capital, workers' pockets remain dry. Those reaping massive profits are going shopping for real estate, but workers have to hesitate even to pick up one item at the market or mart.

"We must fight together to raise the minimum wage, which is a strong support for all workers," said KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo during the rally. He emphasized the need for higher wages to ensure a stable livelihood for all laborers. The union's demands underscore the ongoing tension between corporate profitability and the cost of living for South Korea's low-wage workers.

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We must fight together to raise the minimum wage, which is a strong support for all workers.