[Photo] Children Also Chanted Slogans... 'Everyone's Labor Day' Across the Country
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Thousands of union members across South Korea participated in large-scale rallies on May Day to demand labor rights.
- The rallies, organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, called for improved working conditions, including full application of the Labor Standards Act to businesses with fewer than five employees and recognition of platform workers.
- The events coincided with the first May Day observed as a public holiday in 63 years, with a separate cultural festival also held in Seoul.
South Korean workers celebrated the first May Day as a public holiday in 63 years with a series of large-scale rallies and demonstrations across the nation. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) organized separate events, highlighting key demands for labor rights.
Let's go! Era of workers! Anti-war, peace, social great reform!
The KCTU's '2026 World Labor Day Rally' in Seoul saw participants calling for a July general strike, the full application of the Labor Standards Act to businesses with fewer than five employees, recognition of platform and special employment workers, and the abolition of discrimination against non-regular workers. Their slogans echoed the spirit of past martyrs, emphasizing the fight for fundamental labor rights.
Inherit the spirit of the martyrs and win the labor rights of all workers!
The FKTU, meanwhile, focused on demands such as extending the retirement age to 65, introducing a 4.5-day workweek, and securing political rights for public officials and teachers. FKTU Chairman Kim Dong-myung criticized proposals to extend the period of non-regular employment, viewing them as a means to perpetuate discrimination.
Let's win the original contract and labor rights!
Beyond the political demonstrations, a more festive atmosphere was observed at the 'Let's Walk and Play Together, Labor Day Street Festival' co-organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Jeon Tae-il Foundation. This event featured a 5.1km walk and the distribution of roses, symbolizing a more celebratory approach to the holiday. The presence of children at some rallies, holding signs and chanting slogans, underscored the broad societal engagement with the labor movement's aspirations.
We regained Labor Day, let's lead with greater progress.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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