On restored Labor Day, taxi driver protests 20m in the sky

Today, May 1st, marks a significant Labor Day in South Korea, not only because the name 'Labor Day' has been restored after 63 years, but also because it is overshadowed by the urgent struggle of taxi drivers. Go Young-ki, a branch head of the Daelim Transportation branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, has ascended to a 20-meter-high protest site. His solitary stand is a desperate plea against a legislative revision that threatens the very livelihood of taxi workers across the nation. The core issue is the 'taxi monthly wage system,' a crucial reform designed to guarantee a minimum working hour of 40 hours per week and a fixed salary for corporate taxi drivers. Initially implemented in Seoul in January 2021 and slated for nationwide expansion in August, this system is now facing a potential two-year delay, with a recent amendment allowing companies and workers to exempt up to 40% of drivers from the 40-hour work guarantee.

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Fellow workers, please join us. Let's fight so that the voice of the people can be heard all the way to the Blue House.

From our perspective at Hankyoreh, this revision is a betrayal of the labor movement's hard-won gains. The government and the National Assembly, instead of solidifying protections for workers, are appeasing corporate interests by allowing loopholes that could undermine the system's effectiveness. Go Young-ki's protest, held at the regional office of a ruling party lawmaker, directly targets the political establishment, demanding President Lee Jae-myung exercise his veto power. His impassioned call, 'If you love the people, you must exercise the veto,' resonates with the broader labor movement, which gathered for the 2026 World Labor Day rally in Incheon. The rally, attended by approximately 5,000 workers, underscored the shared struggle for labor rights, with speakers lamenting the loss of a fellow cargo worker and vowing to continue the fight.

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This bill throws the survival rights of taxi drivers onto the streets and abandons the safety of citizens. If you love the people, you must exercise the veto.

This situation is particularly poignant in South Korea, where the labor movement has historically fought against powerful corporate conglomerates and often faces legislative hurdles. While Western media might focus on the economic implications or the specifics of the legislation, our coverage emphasizes the human cost and the erosion of worker protections. The taxi monthly wage system is not just a policy; it's a matter of survival and dignity for thousands of drivers who have long endured precarious working conditions. The fact that this fight is happening on a day meant to celebrate labor, and after the name 'Labor Day' was reinstated, adds a layer of irony and urgency. The workers' demand for a veto is a demand for the government to uphold its commitment to labor, not to falter under corporate pressure. The solidarity shown at the Incheon rally, despite the somber circumstances, reflects the resilience and determination of the Korean labor movement.

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We regained the name 'Labor Day' after 63 years thanks to the workers' struggle, but a cargo worker lost their life due to the rampage of capital and state power.