On the weekend of the 7th, a series of rallies were held throughout downtown Seoul, including the National Workers' Congress of the two major unions and the People Power Party's 'Special Prosecution Act on Manipulated Prosecutions Act'.
The two major unions demanded the withdrawal of the Ultra-Metropolitan Strategic Industrial Zone Act, saying it would backtrack on labor rights, while the People Power Party and the Liberty Unification Party opposed the Special Prosecutor Act passed by the National Assembly the day before.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (KCTU) held a national workers' convention in the Yeoui-daero area at 2 p.m. on this day and requested legislation within the year to extend the retirement age to 65 and job security in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Police unofficially estimated that 15,000 people gathered.
Kim Dong-myeong, chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, criticized the ultra-metropolitan special zone bill, saying, "It is an attempt to expand exceptions to working hours and labor rights and even exclude the application of labor-related laws." He added, "The Lee Jae-myung government, which claimed to be a people's sovereignty government, is becoming a corporate sovereignty government."
Through the resolution, the participants also demanded the realization of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act on the ground, guaranteeing the basic political rights of teachers and civil servants, and eliminating discrimination between the public sector and non-regular workers.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) also held the ‘2026 National Workers’ Rally to Inherit the Spirit of Martyr Jeon Tae-il’ in the area of Sungnyemun-City Hall Station at 3 p.m. Police unofficially estimated that 18,000 people participated.
Lee Jae-jin, chairman of the emergency response committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, criticized the ultra-metropolitan special zone bill as “an evil law that only enriches the conglomerates under the pretext of balanced regional development.”
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions demanded that excess profits from semiconductors and additional tax revenues be used to eliminate discrimination against non-regular workers and create jobs, and that basic labor rights be guaranteed to specially employed, platform, and freelance workers.
After the main event, we plan to march in separate directions to the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Blue House.
At the same time, near Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno-gu, the People Power Party held a rally denouncing the so-called 'Special Prosecution Act on Manipulated Indictments', which investigated allegations of fabricated indictments by the prosecution during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.
Key party officials, including People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, Shin Dong-wook, Kim Min-soo, Yang Hyang-ja, Kim Jae-won, and Cho Kwang-han, as well as conservative civic groups such as the Free Korea Defense Force, participated.
Participants chanted slogans such as “We strongly condemn the cancellation of Lee Jae-myung’s trial” and “The entire nation is angry at the deletion of Lee Jae-myung’s crime,” and claimed that the Democratic Party of Korea passed the Special Prosecutor Act the day before to cancel President Lee Jae-myung’s trial.
Previously, the Liberty Unification Party, led by Sarang Jeil Church pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, also held a rally in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop near Gwanghwamun at around 11:30 a.m.
Approximately 1,500 participants, holding Taegeukgi and American flags, criticized President Lee for appointing a special prosecutor to investigate his case and demanded the resumption of the trial.
Meanwhile, the Korean University Students' Progressive Association (Daejinyeon) held a '1,000 College Student Declaration Rally' in front of Bosingak, demanding the return of wartime operational control, and then marched to the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun.
The Korean-American Freedom Wave, a conservative group, marched from Nonhyeon Station to the special prosecutor's office near Gyodae Station, demanding the resignation of special prosecutor Lee Tae-han, who is investigating the June 3 local election ballot shortage, and the investigation into allegations of election fraud.
As traffic congestion is expected in the downtown area, including Sejong-daero and Sajik-ro, and Yeoui-daero due to rallies and marches, the police took measures such as operating variable lanes.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency urged people to use the subway whenever possible and to check traffic information in advance when using a car.
