Last week up to one million people joined the protests in Seoul calling for the immediate release of imprisoned trade union leaders and resignation of Park Geun Hye.
Representatives of the BWI and other global unions participated in the rallies as part of a joint mission to the country to show solidarity with the imprisoned trade unionists and Korean trade union movement’s call to stop the government crackdown on their rights.
”We call on President Park Geun-hye to immediately and unconditionally release all the jailed trade unionists, stop trade union repression and systematic violation of human rights,” said Ambet Yuson, general secretary of the BWI.
The South Korean government under President Park started to assault trade unions and other social movements calling for increased democratic rights last November. Since then, six trade union leaders including President Han Sang Gyun of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have been sentenced to prison and two are still awaiting trial.